Presence of soluble copper minerals in water, which activate the flotation of pyrite and sphalerite

Mineral Run-of-Mine  contains many copper minerals that can soluble in water very well. For example, mineral may contain chalcanthite (CuSO₄∙5H₂O); calcocianite (CuSO₄); bonattite (CuSO₄∙3H₂O); boothite (CuSO₄∙7H₂O) and other copper sulfates. These minerals are dissolved in water in the pulp and it forms undesirable copper cations. Copper cations are sorbed on the surface of pyrite and sphalerite and it activates the surface of these minerals.

This effect is comparable with the activation of sphalerite and pyrite by copper sulfate. Thus, pyrite floats a good way as copper sulfides (or lead). After such surface activation of pyrite with copper cations, selective depression with traditional methods is much more difficult (added cyanides). You need to create a barrier to prevent the activation of pyrite, sphalerite.
This solution is recommended for use in the flotation of ores containing Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Au.
Pros: When you use this solution, you can almost entirely eliminate the use of cyanide, also a consumption of other reagents cans be reduced. Pyrite depresses much easier. Lead flotation proceeds more efficiently.
Extraction of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Au in a concentrate increases. For example, the extraction of copper in a Plant could rise by as 5-10 % at constant quality of copper concentrate.
Disadvantages: When you use this solution an usage of oxyhidryl collectors is not recommended  (carboxylates, alkyl sulfates, sulfonates, hidroxamates, sulfosuccionales, phosphonic). 

You can visit "THE  STORE  OF  MY  IDEAS  AND  TECHNOLOGICAL  SOLUTIONS"

Ph.D. Natalia Petrovskaya