A critical review of surface properties and selective flotation of enargite in sulphide systems

Arsenic contained in sulphides such as enargite, tennantite and arsenopyrite can represent a significant penalty element in base metals production. There are significant economic advantages to achieving a separation of arsenic bearing minerals at an early stage in processing, but to date no feasible widely applicable commercial method of separation at the flotation stage has been developed. This review focuses on the current state of knowledge in the selective flotation of enargite, commonly found in association with non-arsenic copper sulphide mineralisation. Due to its similar flotation properties with many other copper sulphides, enargite is typically recovered together with the copper minerals, producing a high arsenic bulk concentrate which is costly and problematic to process. Special consideration is given to the various approaches used in the study of the surface chemistry of enargite in different environments, and the implications for the flotation of enargite. Developments in the various approaches in the selective flotation of enargite are critically reviewed and discussed.

► Arsenic is a significant penalty element in base metals production due to its high toxicity.
► No commercial method of floating enargite from copper sulphides has been developed.
► Surface properties, and single-mineral and selective flotation of enargite are reviewed.
► Industrial applications require understanding mechanisms of enargite selective flotation.
► Selective collectors for enargite deserve further investigation.