Research on Concentration of a High-sulfur Copper-Gold Ore from Yunnan Province

In order to improve the comprehensive recovery of the beneficial metal in the high-sulfur copper and gold ore from Yunnan province, the concentration experiments were conducted. The grade of copper, sulfur and gold are 5.14%, 16.96% and 0.3 g/t in this ore, respectively. Based on the property of the high-sulfur cooper, mixed floatation was performed to recovery copper and pyrrhotite firstly, then magnetic separation was used to separate the chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite, at last gravity separation was used to enrich the gold in the copper concentrate. Three concentrate products were got using the joint process of flotation-magnetic separation-gravity separation. With the process we can obtain good results in the closed circuit experiment, the results were as below: in copper concentrate I the grades of Cu and Au were 28.64% and 1.21 g/t, in copper concentrate II the grades of Cu and Au were 25.31% and 0.64 g/t, respectively. The total recovery rate of Cu was up to 98.53%. The grade of S in sulfur concentrate was 39.93% with the recovery rate of 46.08%. The recovery rate of gold was 30.43%. In this process, without the addition of lime, it not only realized the efficient separation of copper and sulfur, but also enhanced the comprehensive recovery of mineral products and the maximal value of the ore. It has particular means of innovative and practical application.