Influence of grinding on flotation of industrial semi-product from sedimentary copper ore upgrading process

The effect of the grinding and liberation changes of sulphide minerals on their floatability in the flotation process of concentrate from rougher flotation from the Rudna Concentration Plant (KGHM Polska Miedz SA) was analyzed. It has been found that the upgrading selectivity decreases with the decreasing size of sulphide particles regardless of liberation degree. The best selectivity of flotation was observed for the fully liberated sulphides. Totally locked sulphides and minerals marginally liberated are characterized by very poor upgrading selectivity or even no upgrading. Moreover, for the smallest particles of sulphides (below 20 μm), despite of good liberation, very low selectivity of enrichment is observed. It was found that the application of one-stage grinding of concentrate from rougher flotation in separation circuit can result in higher upgrading selectivity of cleaning stages and higher content of useful minerals in final concentrate. (paper)