SELECTIVE FLOTATION OF SULPHIDES FROM A GOLD MINING OPERATION

Abstract

This paper presents a study to obtain sulphide as byproducts of a concentrated cleaner of gold generated from the flotation process of sulphide gold ore of mine Morro do Ouro. Chemical analysis of the concentrated of gold showed a content of approximately 22.05% S, in the form of a bulk sulphides. The liberation of the sulphides was measured using a SEM with second generation automated mineralogy (MLA). For the chalcopyrite recovery step, the fraction of liberated gangue particles is above 90%, for galena up to 92% and sphalerite above 96%, in all sizes. Moreover, the fractions of particles of minerals of interest that are completely liberated is ​​below 0.52% for the chalcopyrite recovery step, 0.65% for galena and 0.28% for sphalerite, in all sizes. The use of collectors Aero 3894, 3418A and 5100 allowed greater selectivity in the flotation circuit presented. The recoveries of chalcopyrite, galena and sphalerite in the Rougher steps were 82%, 73% and 62%, respectively.