Experimental Study on Flotation of a Low-grade Sulfur-Oxygen Mixed Copper Ore in Yunnan.

The copper content of a low-grade sulfur-oxygen mixed copper ore in Yunnan is 1.03%, which is the main valuable metal. Among them, copper sulfide accounts for 71.67%, copper oxide accounts for 28.33%, silicon dioxide and calcium oxide accounts for 43.26% and 12.66% respectively. Silicate and carbonate are the main gangue minerals. Through systematic experimental study, the asynchronous flotation-staged sulfurization process was determined, in which copper sulfide was selected first and then copper oxide was selected. Butyl xanthate was used as collector and lime as cleaning depressant in the flotation of copper sulfide, and butyl xanthate + ammonium dibutyl dithiophosphate was used as collector, sodium sulfide as vulcanizing agent and CMC as cleaning depressant in the flotation of copper oxide. In the two stages of roughing operation, depressant is not added to ensure copper recovery, while in the cleaning operation, depressant is added to improve copper grade. Finally, copper sulfide concentrate with copper grade of 18.95% and copper recovery of 66.27%, and copper oxide concentrate with copper grade of 20.11% and copper recovery of 19.87% can be obtained and the total copper recovery is 86.14%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]