Flotation studies on a Copper ore sample from Kolihan, Rajasthan

Abstract

A copper ore assaying 2.69% Cu, 15.57% Fe, 8.18% S, 50.18% SiO2, 8.87% Al2O3, 2.6 dwt/T Ag and 0.19 dwt/T Au from Kolihan, Rajasthan was received from National Mineral Development Corporation for flotation studies. The sample contained chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite in almost equal proportions with minor amounts of magnetite and pyrite. The principal non-metallic minerals were quartz and chlorite. Liberation of chalcopyrite occurred at about -150 mesh size. Flotation followed by one cleaning of the rougher float yielded concentrate assaying 27.41% Cu,33.7% S, 31.6% Fe,1.42% Al2O3, 0.2%MgO,0.16% CaO,2.17% SiO2,2.0 dwt/T Au and 13.8 dwt/T Ag with recoveries of 93.8% Cu, 96.8% Au and 47.7% Ag respectively. Results of grindability tests with the tailing and concentrate are presented.