Siirt-Madenköy bakir cevherinin flotasyon yöntemiyle zenginleştirilmesi

Copper ore sample collected from Siirt-Madenköy, was used in experimental studies. The results of microscopic analysis on the samples used in tests showed that the ore contains pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, hematite, limonite, calcite and quartz. In the Siirt-Madenköy copper plant Aerophine 3418 A (50 g/ton) is used as collector, as well as zinc sulphate (120 g/ton) and sodium silicate (1000 g/ton) as depressants. In this study, collector type and dosages were investigated. A series of flotation tests were accomplished for obtaining concentrates assaying 20 % copper as well as decreasing the zinc content of concentrate below 4 %. Therefore, the effects of collector type, collector dosages, pH and particle size were investigated. In flotation tests, Aerophine 3418A (Sodium Isobutyl Dithiophosphine), KEX (Potassium Ethyl Xanthate) and Aerofloat 211 (Sodium Isopropyl Dithiophosphate) were used as collector and MIBC (Methyl Iso Butyl Carbinol) were used as frother. The effects of depressants caustified starch, sodium meta bisulphite, sodium silicate, zinc sulphate were investigated. As a result of flotation experiments, the best collector type is Aero 3418 A, optimum collector dosage is 50 g/t, and the optimum particle size is below 53 μ m. Aerophine 3418 A provides acceptable recoveries and metal contents at pH 12 for copper. Sodium meta bisulphite is more effective depressant compared to zinc sulphate to depress zinc in copper concentrate. When 4000 g/ton meta bi sulphite is used as a depressant, a copper concentrated is produced with 71% recovery and 17.93 % Cu content where zinc content decreases to 3.39 %. These results could be adapted to plant where zinc sulphate is used to depress zinc, sodium silicate to depress gangue minerals. Alternatively, meta bisulphite could be used in the plant for the depression of zinc.