The Effect of Aerophine 3418A Collector Dosage on Niğde (Ulukışla-Madenköy) Complex Pb-Zn Sulphide Ore Flotation

Abstract

In this study, grinding + flotation experiments were performed on the sample of complex Pb-Zn sulphide ore taken from Niğde (Ulukışla-Madenköy) region in Turkey. According to the mineralogical analysis of the ore sample used in experimental studies, it was determined that the ore composition contains calcite, quartz, pyrite, chalcopyrite, hematite, goethite, limonite, gypsum, galena, sphalerite, jarosite, arsenopyrite and marcasite minerals. In addition, Au and Ag grains were found to be inclusions in hematite, goethite and jarosite minerals. The experiments were carried out at a solid ratio of 30%, a flow rate of 10 L/min, a stirring rate of 1250 rpm and pH = 9. In flotation tests, lime is used as the pH regulator, zinc sulphate, sodium silicate as the depressant, sodium isobutyl dithiophosphine as the collector and methyl isobutyl carbinol as the frother. In the flotation studies, the effect of Aerophine 3418A collector dosage on flotation was investigated. As a result, a lead concentrate of 55.13% Pb was obtained and it was found that this concentrate contained 2489 ppm of Ag. The amount of Aerophine 3418A collector was determined as 10 g/t.