New Reagent for Fine Gold Recovery during Copper Ores Processing

Abstract

During flotation treatment of copper ores, more than 30% of the metallurgical losses could be attributed to the non-recoverable fine dispersed gold. Gold particles are most commonly met in region 1-3 m. Due to their high surface hydrophobicity they are often lost in the clarified water of the thickeners. Closed loop water use does not lead to elimination of these losses. On the basis of the flotation behavior of the fine gold particles, a new flot-ation collector has been synthesized securing their effi- cient recovery in the copper concentrate. The reagent reduces gold losses in the clarified water from the thic-keners and in the filter waters from the vacuum filters. The reagent is oil-based and is naturally introduced in the grinding cycle. The behavior of its functional groups offer the possibility of sticking the gold particles onto chalcopyrite grains and thus their collective recovery as a final concentrate. The new reagent is particularly suitable when a part of the gold is dispersed as emulsion within pyrite or quartz.