Relating mineralogical and textural characteristics to flotation behaviour

Having knowledge of the ore mineralogy and texture can provide valuable information for effective design of a concentrator flowsheet. Specifically, these characteristics help in setting the appropriate grind size to achieve liberation and minimise overgrinding, and assist in identifying suitable flotation parameters to achieve optimum separation. This paper aims to obtain an understanding of the flotation behaviour of an ore by examining its mineralogical and textural features, particularly grain size distribution. Four samples with varying copper recoveries were obtained from different locations in a copper porphyry deposit. The samples were crushed to −4 mm and measured using a Mineral Liberation Analyser to determine the mineralogical characteristics of each. The mineralogical characteristics that were found to vary included: copper deportment and grain size and copper mineral association. This information was used to interpret batch flotation behaviour particularly copper recovery.