Study of Flotation Parameters for Copper Recovery from Tennantite Ore

In the present study beneficiation of copper-pyrite ores consisting of tennantite-tetrahedrite series minerals from Southern Urals deposits were critically discussed. Intergrowth of pyrite, sphalerite, tennantite and other copper sulphides, difference in their activity and size created the considerable problems in implementation of selective flotation to obtain conditional copper and zinc concentrates. Since the demand for copper is growing constantly, the need to develop processes and technologies to treat copper resources with high level of arsenic were established. A detailed study was conducted to evaluate the effect of particle size, pH, flotation time, collector type and addition on efficiency of tennantite flotation. It was shown that maximum copper recovery of 95, 3 % was obtained at pH 12.3 by lime. It was suggested to grind up to 65.72 % of -0.074 mm to achieve the optimum recovery of copper and high grade of arsenic in concentrate. Overgrinding led to desliming and more loss of As in tailings. It was established that allylalkylthionocarbamates and dialkyldithiophosphinates could be considered as prospective reagents for tennantite ore flotation.