Study on Flotability and Surface Oxidation of Sulfide Minerals from the Tailing of an Iron-Copper Mine Using Electron Probe Microanalyzer

ABSTRACT

With the depletion of high-grade ores, beneficiation of valuable minerals from mineral processing tailings attracts attentions of mining companies and researchers. Recovery of valuable sulfide minerals by flotation from the tailing of an iron-copper mine in central China was investigated in this paper. The surface oxidation status of sulfide minerals is an important factor influencing their flotation properties. Electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) equipped with wavelength dispersive X-ray spectrometer (WDS) is an effective apparatus for characterizing solid surface (interface), which can analyze the composition and element distribution on the surfaces of sulfide minerals so as to understand their oxidation status. EPMA-WDS was employed to analyze the phenomenon responsible for the low flotation recovery of chalcopyrite and pyrite in this tailing. The research methodology is a useful reference for further work in the field of sulfide mineral surface analysis.

KEYWORDS:

• Tailing beneficiation
• flotation
• sulfide minerals
• surface oxidation
• Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA)

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Corporation (WISCO) for funding this research. Many thanks to Professors Yongfu Yu, Wen Chen, Jiahong Cao, Xiaoyu Mai and Huilian Cai of Changsha Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Co., Ltd. (CRIMM) for participating in this research project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.