AbstractsEarth & Environmental Science

Molybdenite flotation

by Lin Zhou




Institution: University of South Australia
Department:
Degree: PhD
Year: 2010
Keywords: Molybdenite; Flotation; Mineral Processing/Beneficiation 91404
Record ID: 1037990
Full text PDF: http://itupl-ura1.ml.unisa.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=unisa46899


Abstract

The low flotation recovery of fine and coarse molybdenite particles is one of the major issues in the flotation process of molybdenite-bearing copper sulfide ores. In this study, the flotation behaviour of fine and coarse molybdenite particles was investigated as a function of particle size, edge to face ratio, morphology, water chemistry (pH, cations) and the presence of other minerals (gangue minerals and copper-sulfides) to reveal the mechanisms responsible for the low recovery of fine and coarse molybdenite particles. The knowledge acquired from these studies was then applied to real copper sulfide-molybdenite ores to target potential strategies for improving molybdenite flotation in these size fractions.