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Abstract
The Fuerstenau upgrading plot, relating recovery of an ore component in concentrate (ϵ) versus recovery of the remaining components in the tailing (ϵ r ), was found suitable for analysis and evaluation of industrial separation data of five copper mineral processing plants. The past, present, and future performance of the flotation plants was analyzed with the Fuerstenau curve. It was found that all the plants tend to produce concentrates with the recovery of the remaining components in the tailing near ϵ r = 95.5%. Additional laboratory flotation tests using industrial final products provided industrial floatability of the ores. The industrial floatability curves had their maximum curvature at about ϵ r = 95.5%. This represents optimum of the industrial separation. Similarity of the industrial performance and the industrial upgradeability of the ores indicates that the flotation plants work near the optimum point as far as the recovery of the remaining components in the tailing is concerned. However, there is fluctuation of the industrial separation results of the other upgrading parameter (always two upgrading parameters are required), that is the recovery of the useful component (Cu) of the ore in the concentrate. For improved evaluation of the considered industrial separation, the reason of the fluctuation has to be determined. Finally, a simplified procedure of relating industrial and laboratory separation results is offered. It can be useful for predicting future industrial separation results.