An investigation on characterization and floation behavior of a transitional ore containing Galena and Pb Oxide minerals

Flotation behavior of a lead ore sample containing both sulfide and oxide Pb minerals taken from transition zone was investigated. Detailed mineralogical analyses were conducted to determine the type of lead and gangue minerals. The results revealed that galena, cerussite and pulmbogummite were the major lead minerals and observed in close association. In the flotation tests, following determination of the optimum particle size, effects of sulfidization, type of collector, and frother were examined. Potassium amyl xanthate, a modified mercaptan (Aero 412), and and the frother (Dowfroth-250) produced the best results. Use of Flash flotation was tested to reduce the flotation time and recover the fast-floating liberated galena particles at coarse particle size. A locked cycle flotation test was conducted using the optimum flotation conditions and 50% lead containing concentrate was thought to be produced with 88.9% recovery under plant conditions.