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a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t
Article history: Molybdenite otation in the bulk copper/molybdenum otation circuit at Kennecott Utah Copper was
Received 23 April 2009 studied by means of a combination of plant metallurgical surveys, laboratory otation tests, mineralogical
Received in revised form 2 October 2009 analysis (QEM-Scan), surface analysis (ToF-SIMS) and contact angle measurements. It was demonstrated
Accepted 3 October 2009
that molybdenite recovery is inuenced by otation feed solids percent and by the mineralogy of the host
rock. Molybdenite recovery was consistently higher at reduced otation feed solids percent. Furthermore,
Keywords:
the recovery of molybdenite was signicantly lower from otation feeds with high limestone skarn ore
Froth otation
Molybdenite content. The major factors affecting the otation recovery of molybdenite from both porphyry and skarn
Sulphide ores copper ores are discussed. It is suggested that the lower otation recovery of molybdenite compared to the
Ore mineralogy copper sulphide is determined by several factors, including particle morphology, inherent hydrophobicity
and possible formation of slime coatings in the presence of gangue minerals typical of skarn ores.
Implications on plant performance are discussed, and solutions to restore molybdenite recovery presented.
2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
0301-7516/$ see front matter 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.minpro.2009.10.001
M. Zanin et al. / Int. J. Miner. Process. 93 (2009) 256266 257
Fig. 1. Historical recovery data for a typical porphyry copper plant. Bulk copper/
1.2. Hydrodynamic effects (a)
molybdenum otation circuit.
In otation, the rate at which particles are removed from the slurry
by air bubbles can be represented by (Newell and Grano, 2007):
sulphur atoms (Fig. 2). Strong covalent bonds act within SMoS
layers, but only weak van der Waals forces between adjacent SS dNp
= kNp = Zpb Ecoll 1
sheets (Lince and Frantz, 2000). This strong anisotropy causes dt
preferential cleavage of the molybdenite crystal along the adjacent
SS sheets. As a result, during grinding, platelet shaped fragments, in which Np is the number of particles in the slurry at time t, k the
exfoliating from larger particles, are generally produced. Furthermore, otation rate constant, Zpb the collision frequency, and Ecoll the
collection efciency. The collection efciency Ecoll can be described as
a product of the collision (Ec), attachment (Ea) and stability (Es)
efciencies:
Ecoll = Ec Ea Es 2
reduce the magnitude, or even reverse the sign of the zeta potential. Cu Fe Mo S SiO2 Al2O3 CaO K2O MgO
Calcium ions, in particular, have been shown to adsorb in the [%] [%] [ppm] [%] [%] [%] [%] [%] [%]
intermediate to high pH range (Healy, 1984). Adsorbed Ca2+ ions Quartzite 0.50 1.9 600 0.4 63 13.8 2.0 7.0 5.0
on the particle edges may reduce the contact angle and otability of Skarn 0.45 9.6 21 1.5 44 1.7 24 0.3 2.7
molybdenite particles.
Furthermore, signicant deformation of particles may occur in
tumbling mills (Hoover, 1980), and it is common to nd bent, otation feeds (synthetic mineral mixtures and blends of different ore
distorted, or striated molybdenite particles in the otation feed types) have been carried out at the Ian Wark Research Institute.
(Triffett and Bradshaw, 2008). Under these conditions, higher
exposure of edges may occur, due to the breakage of the covalent
bonds, and the spatial distribution and orientation of the hydrophilic 2. Materials and methods
edges may determine the probability of attachment of particles to air
bubbles on collision. Oily collector is typically added in molybdenite 2.1. Ores
otation to enhance the mineral's hydrophobicity. The presence of
exposed hydrophilic edges on the bent and distorted particles may The Kennecott Utah Copperton concentrator treats porphyry
also prevent spreading of oil droplets on hydrophobic surfaces, thus copper ore, in which molybdenite occurs as a minor phase. Typically,
reducing the effect of the collector. Mo concentrations range from 0.02% to 0.06%. Distinct zones of
mineralisation and alteration are mined at Kennecott, such that four
1.4. Inter-particle interactions with gangue minerals (c) main ore types have been described (Triffett and Bradshaw, 2008),
including a quartzite ore showing high molybdenum grade
The high reactivity of molybdenite edges may also determine and recovery and a more difcult to oat, low grade, limestone
particleparticle interactions with other minerals in the slurry, in the skarn ore.
form of slime coatings. Raghavan and Hsu (1984) showed that, in the In the current study, plant surveys have been undertaken with the
presence of Ca2+ ions, the addition of silica to a system of molybdenite plant processing blends of the four main ore types in different
particles causes a sharp decrease in molybdenite otation recovery. It proportions, and laboratory otation tests have been performed both
is possible that the calcium ions act as a bridge, favouring adhesion on plant slurries and controlled blends of quartzite and skarn ores,
between negatively charged molybdenite and silica particles. This prepared at laboratory scale. Average head grades of the quartzite and
mechanism may be relevant in the otation of an ore with specic skarn ore samples are reported in Table 1, and the mineralogical
gangue mineralisation and dissolution of ions. Inter-particle interac- composition (modal distribution by QEM-Scan) in Table 2. The two
tions between some of the gangue minerals and molybdenite may ores present distinct gangue minerals: large amounts of quartz and
cause slime coatings on the latter, reducing its otation recovery. This feldspar in the quartzite ore sample, and actinolite, andradite, talc and
effect could be signicant at high pH and high alkalinity, due to the calcite abundant in the limestone skarn ore sample (shown in Table 2
bridging effect of the adsorbed Ca2+ ions. This possibility is explored as the Skarn ore).
in this paper. Single mineral molybdenite samples from WILLYAMA-GEO Dis-
coveries were used to produce coarse molybdenite particles which
1.5. Froth phase recovery (d) were used for contact angle measurement by the sessile drop method.
otation tests have been carried out plant slurries. Tests on controlled Modal mineral distribution for the major gangue minerals determined by QEM-Scan.
M. Zanin et al. / Int. J. Miner. Process. 93 (2009) 256266 259
Table 3 in a cryogenic container until ToF-SIMS analysis was carried out. Since
Composition of synthetic process water compared with a sample of process water from the focus of the study was recovery of coarse molybdenite, the ToF-
the KUCC copper circuit.
SIMS analysis was carried out on the +150 m particles, which were
Ion Synthetic H2O Process H2O isolated by wet sieving. The surface chemistry of the fast (concentrate
[ppm] [ppm] from cell 1) and slow (concentrate from cell 11) oating particles was
investigated, in order to correlate possible differences in surface
Na+ 1308 1310
Ca++ 798 798 composition to otation response. It was not possible to analyse
K+ 87 87 molybdenite in the otation tailings, which ideally contain the non-
Mg++ 129 129 oating molybdenite, due to the extremely low molybdenum grade,
Cl 1818 1940 i.e. a statistically signicant number of molybdenite particles could
SO
4 2653 2590
HCO 189 160
not be analysed. No samples of slurry for ToF-SIMS analysis were
3
TDS 6980 7010 collected during surveys 34. Therefore, it was not possible to
pH 7.6 7.2 compare the surface composition of molybdenite in surveys with
Cond. [ S/cm] 6700 8000 different feed ore blends and gangue mineralogy. This important
aspect of the study was, however, conducted on samples generated at
laboratory scale, as described further below.
salts in demineralised water to reproduce the composition of
Kennecott process water (Table 3). 2.3.2. Laboratory otation tests on plant slurries
In parallel with the surveys, laboratory otation tests were
2.3. Methods undertaken on conditioned rougher feed slurries collected in the
plant. The tests were conducted using a 5 l Agitair otation machine
2.3.1. Plant surveys with forced air supply. The samples were taken from the otation feed
The Copperton concentrator consists of grinding circuits (SAG box where all reagents except frother were added. An impeller speed
milling followed by ball milling) and two otation circuits: a bulk of 1000 rpm and air owrate of 5 l/min were used in the tests. The
copper otation circuit, where copper/molybdenum concentrate is slurry (conditioned rougher feed) was oated without further
produced, and a molybdenite otation plant, in which molybdenite in collector addition, and at the same pH (9.510) as the plant.
the bulk concentrate is separated from the copper minerals. At the Concentrates were collected after 1, 3, 6 and 10 min. All the otation
time of investigation, the copper circuit consisted of 5 parallel rows of products were assayed on an unsized and size-by-size basis. Unsized
rougher/scavenger cells. The rougher concentrate was treated in and size-by-size recoveries were calculated.
rougher cleaners (2 parallel rows of cells) without regrinding. The
scavenger concentrate reported to regrinding (ball milling) along 2.3.3. Laboratory otation tests on reconstructed feeds
with the rougher cleaner tailing. The regrind circuit product was In diagnostic tests carried out at the Ian Wark Research Institute,
upgraded in three scavenger cleaner stages, the nal concentrate from samples of quartzite and limestone skarn ores provided by Kennecott
which, combined with the rougher cleaner concentrate, produced the were used to reproduce plant slurries. Three different controlled feed
bulk copper/molybdenum concentrate. The target d80 of the otation blends were prepared: 100% quartzite, 75:25 quartzite/skarn and
feed was 200 m, and the pH in the rougher/scavengers was 50:50 quartzite/ skarn ores. The ore blends were crushed using
controlled between 9.5 and 10. A bulk concentrate assaying about laboratory jaw and cone crushers, homogenised and ground in a
2530% Cu and 24% Mo was produced, depending on the ore blend laboratory Galigher tumbling mill, using stainless steel rods as
processed. Since most of the molybdenite losses occurred in the grinding media. Grinding was calibrated to a target d80 = 200 m, by
rougher/scavengers of the copper circuit, this part of the circuit varying the grind time for each feed type. Synthetic process water
became the focus of investigations. (Table 3) was used to simulate plant conditions. The same pH and
Four plant surveys were undertaken, in which timed lip samples reagents scheme were used as in the tests carried out at Kennecott.
and in-pulp samples were collected from each cell down one of the Flotation tests were carried out as described in 2.3.2.
rougher/scavenger rows. In each survey, four sampling rounds were Similarly to the plant surveys, after each laboratory otation test
performed, over a period of 90 min, in which multiple samples were the coarse particles (+150 m) from the rst concentrate and the last
collected from the rougher/scavenger tailings to reduce experimental concentrate were collected by wet screening and analysed by ToF-
error. Prior to sampling, plant stability was ensured from the control SIMS. Surface analysis was conducted for the concentrates collected in
room, and plant data (throughput, feed solids percent, air ows, and otation tests on both 100% quartzite ore and 50:50 blend of quartzite
lip levels) were recorded. All metallurgical samples were initially and skarn ores, to draw a link between molybdenite surface
assayed unsized. Samples from selected surveys were sized by wet/ composition, gangue mineralogy and otation response .
dry sieving and assayed on a size-by-size basis. Data reconciliation
and mass balance were performed using the software Bilmat 9.3. 2.3.4. Laboratory otation tests on coarse molybdenite particles
Surveys 1 and 2 were performed with the plant processing a blend The effect of calcium and magnesium ions in solution and gangue
with high quartzite ore content, while surveys 3 and 4 were carried minerals on the recovery of molybdenite was studied separately.
out with the plant processing a blend with high limestone skarn ore Coarse molybdenite particles (+150 m) were obtained by dry
content. Surveys 1 and 4 were performed at lower solids percent in screening of a molybdenite concentrate from Kennecott (nal product
the otation feed, while surveys 2 and 3 were carried out at higher
solids percent (Table 4). The percent solids, which under standard Table 4
operating conditions ranged between 30% and 35%, was adjusted by Feed composition and operating conditions during the plant surveys.
varying the water owrate to the rougher otation distribution box.
Ore blend Cu Mo Survey Solids pH
The inuence of feed solids percent on the recovery of molybdenite
type
from the two different ore blends was studied. [%] [%] # [%]
During survey 1, additional samples of slurry from the concentrate High quartzite 0.3 0.06 1 27 9.8
of cells 1 and 11 were collected for surface analysis by ToF-SIMS. 2 35 10.0
High skarn 0.5 0.06 3 35 10.1
Samples were placed in plastic vials, purged with nitrogen to remove
4 27 10.1
oxygen and frozen in liquid nitrogen. The samples were stored frozen
260 M. Zanin et al. / Int. J. Miner. Process. 93 (2009) 256266
of the molybdenum plant). Particles were washed in Ensolv (n-propyl skarn ore in the feed blend, but molybdenum recovery decreased
bromide N 93%) and ethanol to clean the surface from any residual more than copper recovery. With a reduction in the feed solids
collector. Samples of quartzite and skarn ore were oated to remove percent, however, it was possible to partially restore molybdenum
copper minerals and molybdenite, and the otation tailings were recovery to values characteristic of quartzite ore (from 75% to 85%).
collected. The coarse molybdenite particles were then blended into The laboratory tests (Fig. 3c and d) showed generally higher
the tailings of quartzite and skarn ores, to produce synthetic ore recoveries for both copper and molybdenum compared to the plant
containing 0.15% MoS2 by weight. Samples were oated, with the surveys (Fig. 3a and b), but with a similar trend with respect to feed
collectors and frother added according to the conditioning scheme composition and solids percent. Copper recovery was marginally
described in 2.2. Low conductivity water, produced by reverse affected by changes in feed solids percent in the absence of limestone
osmosis, two stages of ion exchange and two stages of activated skarn ore, showing some difference (90% recovery at 35% solids versus
carbon prior to nal ltration, was used in these experiments. The 93% recovery at 27% solids) when limestone skarn ore was blended to
water pH was adjusted to 10 by adding KOH, and the concentration of otation feed. Molybdenum recovery, on the contrary, was always
ions was varied by adding Ca(NO3)2 and Mg(NO3)2. higher at low solids percent. Differences in recovery became
signicant (93% versus 85%) in the presence of limestone skarn ore.
2.4. Characterisation techniques Size-by-size analysis of the otation products was undertaken for
surveys 3 and 4 (feed blend with high skarn ore), in which a
2.4.1. Contact angle of molybdenite particles signicant increase in molybdenum recovery was obtained by
Large molybdenite crystals were obtained from WILLYAMA-GEO reducing the feed solids percent. Results (Fig. 4a) revealed increased
Discoveries. Molybdenite crystals were cut and cleaved using a molybdenum recovery across all size ranges, but particularly for the
scalpel, to expose fresh crystal edges and faces. The contact angle was coarse size fractions (+150 m). The effect on copper was much less
measured at different pH values and Ca2+ concentrations in the pronounced. In the laboratory scale tests, the recovery of molybde-
ranges typically observed in the plant (811 for pH and 010 2 M for num was higher than in the plant across all size ranges. Furthermore, a
Ca2+ ions). After conditioning, the water advancing and receding reduction in the feed solids percent produced a signicant effect on
contact angle of face and edge of individual molybdenite particles coarse (+150 m) molybdenum bearing particles, for which recovery
were measured by the sessile drop method. increased from 60% to 80% when the feed solids percent was reduced
from 35% to 27%.
2.4.2. ToF-SIMS Two additional otation tests were undertaken at laboratory scale,
TOF-SIMS spectra were obtained using a PHI TRIFT II System at 30% and 45% solids in the rougher otation feed. These concentra-
equipped with a gallium liquid metal ion gun (LMIG) in pulsed mode. tions were achieved by manipulating samples of plant feed collected
For insulating samples the surface charge is compensated using a during survey 3 (35% solids), the former by diluting with process
pulsed electron ood gun. The mineral samples were mounted on to water, the latter by ltering and re-suspending the solids in process
indium foil. The primary beam current employed in the present study water. The trend (Fig. 4d) conrmed what was observed in the
was 600 pA (DC measurement). In static mode, the analysis is previous tests, showing high sensitivity of the coarse molybdenite
conned to the top two monolayers. An excitation voltage of 25 kV particles to feed solids percent. The feed solids percent is an important
was used in un-bunched mode to give a spatial resolution of better driver to molybdenite recovery overall, and particularly in coarse
than 0.5 m and pulse length adjusted to give a mass resolution (m/ particle size fractions.
m) of ~ 4000. Imaging of the sample involved mapping for positive In Fig. 4, bar charts reporting the distribution of copper and
and negative ions for surface regions of mineral particles of interest, molybdenum in the feed are superimposed on the recovery curves.
i.e. MoS2. Several tens of particles in each processing stream are The area of each bar in the charts is proportional to the relative mass
analysed and the data statistically presented in terms of normalised of mineral in the specied particle size range. Considering that, at the
(to total ion yield) intensity of signals and 95% condence intervals. In standard plant grind, the +150 m size fraction contains about 20% of
this mode, statistical differences in surface chemistry between the the total molybdenite in the feed, the recovery of this size fraction is
same minerals in different streams or under different pulp conditions critical to the overall molybdenite recovery.
may be discerned. In the present case, we are investigating surface Surface analysis results on the slurry samples collected during
chemistry differences between oating and non(slow)-oating MoS2 survey 1 (in which the otation feed consisted mainly of quartzite
particles. type ore, and no limestone skarn was present) are reported in Fig. 5.
No signicant difference in surface composition between fast
3. Results (concentrate from Cell 1) and slow (concentrate from Cell 11)
oating molybdenites was found in this particular case of the
3.1. Plant Studies and Laboratory Tests on Plant Slurries quartzite ore type. It could therefore be concluded that the smaller
differences in molybdenite recovery noted between plant and
The grade/recovery relationship for copper and molybdenum for laboratory scale (Fig. 3) may be ascribed to changes in hydrodynam-
the four plant surveys and the laboratory otation tests carried out in ics. However, this conclusion will depend on the feed type, as
parallel with the plant surveys are reported in Fig. 3. The ultimate discussed further below.
recovery (combined rougher/scavenger otation) for copper and
molybdenum is also reported in Table 5. In the plant surveys, 3.2. Laboratory otation tests on reconstructed feeds
molybdenum recovery ranged from 75% to 92%, while copper
recovery from 85% to 92%. The recovery of molybdenum was The otation recoveries of copper and molybdenum in laboratory
consistently lower than copper recovery, the difference increasing at scale tests on blends of quartzite ore and skarn ore are reported in
higher feed solids percent and in the presence of limestone skarn ore. Fig. 6. A sharp decrease in molybdenite recovery was observed at
For both copper and molybdenum, the lowest recovery was achieved increasing concentration of limestone skarn ore in the feed. The
at high solids percent and in the presence of limestone skarn ore ultimate molybdenite recovery decreased from 92% in the absence of
(survey 3). Compared to copper, molybdenum recovery was more skarn ore to 85% with 25% skarn ore and 56% with 50% skarn ore in the
sensitive to the feed solids percent, being signicantly enhanced otation feed. Copper otation was affected to a much lesser extent.
when solids percent was reduced from 35% to 27%. Both copper and This is in agreement with the plant surveys and tests carried out on
molybdenum recoveries were lower in the presence of limestone plant slurries. It should be noted that, since the limestone skarn ore
M. Zanin et al. / Int. J. Miner. Process. 93 (2009) 256266 261
Fig. 3. Grade/recovery relationship for copper and molybdenum in the plant surveys (a and b) and in the laboratory tests on plant feed (c and d). The ultimate recovery at the
completion of otation is also indicated (dashed lines).
contains very little molybdenum (Table 1), it is the molybdenite observations at plant scale, which also showed no surface chemical
particles in the quartzite ore which are depressed in the presence of differences on molybdenite. In the presence of 50% skarn ore, on the
skarn ore. contrary, samples of fast and slow oating molybdenites showed
The ToF-SIMS spectra for the fast oating molybdenite (Con 1) and differences in surface chemistry (Fig. 7). In the fast oating sample
slow oating molybdenite (Con 4) collected in the tests with 0% and (Con 1) there are much more exposed molybdenum and sulphur
50% skarn ore in the otation feed are reported in Fig. 7. compared to the slow oating sample (Con 4). Furthermore, Ca, K, Fe,
Samples of fast (Con 1) and slow (Con 4) oating molybdenite as well as O and OH groups, were more abundant on the latter sample.
in the presence of quartzite type ore only, showed very small Signicantly higher Mg on the surface of molybdenite in the presence
differences in surface chemical composition. The different species of skarn ore was also noted in both fast and slow oating fractions
appear in the same proportion on the surface of the two samples, (Fig. 7a).
within statistical error (Fig. 7). This is in agreement with previous
3.3. Laboratory otation tests on coarse molybdenite particles
Table 5
Ultimate recovery of copper and molybdenum in plant (after rougher/scavenger The effect of calcium and magnesium ions in solution on coarse
otation) and laboratory. molybdenite (+150 m) recovery from quartzite and limestone skarn
ores is presented in Fig. 8. In the case of quartzite ore, the cumulative
Ore blend Survey Solids Plant recovery Lab recovery
type
recovery of molybdenite was high, approaching 90% after 8 min of
# [%] Cu [%] Mo [%] Cu [%] Mo [%] otation. The addition of calcium and magnesium ions to the pulp did
High quartzite 1 27 92 92 95 95 not have an effect on molybdenite otation. In contrast, molybdenite
2 35 92 88 94 92 recovery from limestone skarn ore was considerably lower (60%) even
High skarn 3 35 85 75 90 85
in the absence of calcium and magnesium ions, and decreased further
4 27 88 85 93 93
to 30% when Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions were added. Apparently, there is a
262 M. Zanin et al. / Int. J. Miner. Process. 93 (2009) 256266
Fig. 4. Size-by-size recovery of copper and molybdenum in plant surveys 3 and 4 (after rougher/scavenger otation) (a and b) and in the laboratory otation tests on plant feed
(c and d). At laboratory scale, additional feed solids percent values (30% and 45%) were obtained by manipulating plant feed samples. The distribution of copper and molybdenum in
the feed is also reported. Feed blend contained high limestone skarn ore.
synergistic effect between the presence in solution of Ca2+ and Mg2+ particles. Particle size and shape, morphology and surface composi-
ions and gangue minerals of the skarn ore. tion are all contributing factors. Insufcient molybdenite liberation in
The effect of pH and calcium ions on the contact angle of the coarse size fractions was also considered in the rst instance as a
molybdenite was also investigated (Fig. 9). The tests showed that possible cause for the low otation recovery. However, QEM-Scan
faces and edges of molybdenite particles have considerably different analysis of the scavenger tailings (Triffett, private communication)
contact angles. Face contact angle was high (about 100) and showed that molybdenite in the + 150 m size fraction mainly
independent of solution pH and calcium concentration. In contrast, consists of liberated particles. This conrms that other mechanisms,
contact angle on the edges was low (maximum 45), and decreased with as outlined in Section 1.1, play signicant roles.
increased pH and calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+] N 4 10 3 M). The hydrodynamic behaviour of the at molybdenite particles in a
turbulent environment may explain the increase in molybdenum
4. Discussion recovery observed at reduced solids percent (Fig. 3). Higher local
turbulent energy dissipation may increase the collision efciency for
From an industrial perspective, the most important nding from the at and elongated particles, as hypothesised in Section 1.2. The
the plant studies was the consistent increase in molybdenite recovery fact that molybdenite recovery in laboratory otation tests was higher
in rougher/scavenger otation at reduced feed solids percent. This is than in the plant (Fig. 4) may also be due hydrodynamic effects.
in agreement with previous observations for different otation plants Compared to the plant cells, laboratory batch otation cells have
(Ametov et al., 2008). The coarse (+ 150 m) size fractions were higher local turbulent energy dissipation (Newell and Grano, 2007),
affected the most by changes in feed solids percent, and therefore and therefore higher collision efciency, Ec, and, according to Eq. (1),
uctuations in the overall recovery of molybdenite in the plant are higher otation rate. An interesting feature is that it is the coarse and
determined to a large extent by the otation response of the coarse liberated molybdenite that is mainly affected, the recovery of which is
M. Zanin et al. / Int. J. Miner. Process. 93 (2009) 256266 263
Fig. 5. Positive (a) and negative (b) ToF-SIMS normalised intensities for + 150 m molybdenite particles. Average with 95% condence, N N 23. Fast oating (Cell 1) and slow oating
(Cell 11) molybdenite from plant survey 1 (no skarn ore in the feed).
Fig. 6. Copper and molybdenum recovery in laboratory otation tests on reconstructed feeds (blends of quartzite and skarn ores in different ratios). Tests at 35% solids (synthetic
process water used); Agitair 5 l cell; impeller speed 1000 rpm; air 7 l/min. 0% skarn ore = 100% quartzite ore.
264 M. Zanin et al. / Int. J. Miner. Process. 93 (2009) 256266
Fig. 7. Positive (a) and negative (b) ToF-SIMS normalised intensities for on + 150 m molybdenite particles. Average with 95% condence, N N 23. Fast oating (Con 1) and slow
oating (Con 4) coarse particles (N 150 m) in tests with 100% quartzite ore and 50:50 blend of quartzite and skarn ores.
presumably limited by stability efciency, Es (Pyke et al., 2003). The scales, suggesting that the different otation recoveries of molybde-
high surface/bulk ratio of the coarse molybdenite particles may nite at high and low solids percent may be ascribed to hydrodynamic
however be benecial for the stability of particlebubble aggregates, effects, possibly arising from the intrinsic shape of the particles, rather
because of a higher surface force/inertial force ratio. Surface forces than from the surface cleaning of slime coatings. Therefore, the
favour attachment of particles to bubbles, while inertial forces hypothesis of slime coatings may hold for some feed types and be less
promote detachment. A high surface/bulk ratio results in high important for others. It is surmised that at low pulp density there is
stability efciency, even in high turbulent conditions such as in less likelihood of inter-particle interactions causing slime coatings. A
laboratory otation and at reduced solids percent. reduction in slime coatings on the surface of molybdenite particles
Another outcome of the plant studies was that the effect of a results in increased contact angle. Even a small increase in contact
reduction in feed solids percent on molybdenite recovery was high for angle could cause previously non-oatable coarse particles to become
some feed blends (high limestone skarn) while it was much lower for oatable and the ultimate recovery is therefore increased.
others (high quartzite). This was observed at plant scale (Fig. 3b), in The high concentration of Ca2+ and SO2 4 in Kennecott process
laboratory otation tests on plant slurries (Fig. 3d), and in tests on water (Table 3) may also suggest deposition of calcite and gypsum
reconstructed feed blends (Fig. 6). Therefore, it is likely that factors from solution due to oversaturation. This could also be a contributing
other than hydrodynamics and collision efciency, such as surface factor, but it is not sufcient to justify the different degrees of
modication and particleparticle interactions also play a role. ToF- molybdenite depression observed in the presence of quartzite and
SIMS analysis indicated the presence of elements associated with skarn ores. Diagnostic otation tests on coarse molybdenite particles
hydrophilic components on the slow oating coarse molybdenite in the presence of limestone skarn ore and different levels of calcium
particles in the presence of skarn ore (Fig. 7). This could be either from and magnesium ions in solution (Fig. 8) corroborate the hypothesis
the deposition of ne slimes or adsorption of dissolved ions. In any that interactions between molybdenite and some gangue minerals in
case, the effect is strongly ore type dependent. In the absence of skarn the skarn ore lead to molybdenite depression. The effect could be
ore, no difference in surface composition between fast and slow induced by metal ions adsorbed at the molybdenite edges, as also
molybdenite was apparent at plant (Fig. 5) and laboratory (Fig. 7) suggested by contact angle measurements carried out separately on
M. Zanin et al. / Int. J. Miner. Process. 93 (2009) 256266 265
5. Conclusions
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