Sulfidizing Behavior of Complex Lead-Silver Ore: A Flotation Study

In this study, we investigate a low-grade oxidized lead ore containing noble metal silver, with complex mineralogy. The sulfurization behaviors of different types of lead-silver minerals at different pH values were analyzed using the chemical phase analysis method. The interactions between different types of lead-silver minerals and different types of collectors were investigated. An effective laboratory process was developed, and closed-circuit tests were carried out at industrial sites. We found that the order of difficulty for sulfidizing various lead minerals and silver minerals was (PbFe6(OH)12SO4)4 &lt
PbCO3 &lt
PbSO4 &lt
Pb5(P/As/VO4)3Cl
Ag2AsS2 &lt
AgCl &lt
natural-Ag. Aerophine 3418A had the best selectivity and capture capacity of the silver minerals. In the laboratory, the total recovery of lead and silver was 65.16% and 87.81%, respectively. In industrial closed-circuit testing, flotation alone was used, which produced a total lead recovery yield of 67.71%, and a total silver recovery yield of 87.64%.