Role of magnesium-bearing silicates in the flotation of pyrite in the presence of serpentine slimes

Abstract

Flotation is the most effective separation solution used in sulphide ore beneficiat ion. In sulphide ore flotation, the interaction between the valuable sulphide minerals and the gangues are complex. Serpentine, a co mmon ma gnesiu m-bearing silicate mineral in sulphide ores, can largely depress the flotation of the valuable sulphide minerals by adhering at their surfaces (i.e. slime-coating). In contrast, quartz can mitigate the depressing of the valuable minerals by serpentine. This work studied the effect of two common magnesium-bearing silicate minerals in sulphide ores (i.e. pyro xene and olivine) on the flotation of pyrite which was used as a model sulphide mineral. It was found that, similar to quartz, pyro xene and olivine could significantly imp rove the recovery of pyrite depressed by serpentine. Zeta potential measurements and turbidity experiments showed that serpentine could aggregate with pyroxene and olivine in aqueous solution via electrostatic interaction. Furthermore, DLVO calcu lation revealed that serpentine preferentially interact ed with pyro xene and olivine rather than pyrite, resulting in increased pyrite recovery by stripping serpentine from pyrite surface.

A Geometallurgical Approach to Tailings Management: An Example from the Savage River Fe-Ore Mine, Western Tasmania

“…Antigorite (8 wt %), actinolite (3 wt %) and trace chlorite were also identified as shown in Figure 6. Magnesium silicates are common gangue components in sulphide ores with their presence inhibiting metallurgical recovery [48]. The mineralogy of the rougher tailings was like that of the composite feed with chlorite (32 wt %), antigorite (27 wt %) and actinolite (23 wt %).…”

Enhancing flotation separation of chalcopyrite and magnesium silicate minerals by surface synergism between PAAS and GA

“…Magnesium silicate minerals and metal sulfide minerals coexist in an ore, which increases the difficulty of flotation separation. At the same time, serpentine and talc are different types of magnesium silicate minerals whose surface properties and flotation behavior are different 12 – 14 . Separation scheme is different from that of sulfide ores, a large number of studies have shown that Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a common modifier for Copper-Nickel Sulfide Ores to reduce MgO content in concentrate 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 .…”

The effect of lizardite on talc flotation using carboxymethyl cellulose as a depressant

“…Lizardite ((Mg6)[Si8]O20(OH)4) and talc (Mg6[Si4O10](OH)8) are magnesium bearing silicate minerals, which are usually associated with sulfide ores, such as nickel and/or copper sulfide ores, etc. (Feng et al, 2018;Yang et al, 2018;Liu et al, 2018 and2019a). According to the crystal structure of talc, its surfaces consist of edge face and basal face.…”