The behaviour of free gold particles in a simulated flash flotation environment

A reliable laboratory method to characterize the response of free gold particles to flash flotation conditions has been developed. The test has been performed on free milling gold ores as well as synthetic ores, using either a gravity concentrate or gold powder as the gold source, to assess the floa...

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Main Authors: McGrath, Teresa, Eksteen, Jacques, Heath, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.saimm.co.za/Journal/v115n02p103.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37446
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author McGrath, Teresa
Eksteen, Jacques
Heath, J.
author_facet McGrath, Teresa
Eksteen, Jacques
Heath, J.
author_sort McGrath, Teresa
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description A reliable laboratory method to characterize the response of free gold particles to flash flotation conditions has been developed. The test has been performed on free milling gold ores as well as synthetic ores, using either a gravity concentrate or gold powder as the gold source, to assess the floatability of gold particles. Trends in free gold flotation kinetics, as well as size and milling effects, were identified for gold recovery based on the different feed types, reagent dosages, and residence times. It was shown that the ultimate recoveries and kinetic trends of gold particles from the gravity concentrate could be enhanced with increased dosage of collector, potassium amyl xanthate. Interestingly, in comparison to gravity-recoverable gold, recovery from pure Au powders was better in collectorless flotation, and cumulative recovery decreased with higher levels of collector addition. Improved coarse particle recovery appeared linked to increased collector additions for both the gravity concentrate and the pure gold powders. In general, coarse gold particles demonstrated slower kinetic rates than the fine or intermediate components incomparable tests.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-374462017-01-30T14:03:18Z The behaviour of free gold particles in a simulated flash flotation environment McGrath, Teresa Eksteen, Jacques Heath, J. flotation natural hydrophobicity flash flotation gold kinetics A reliable laboratory method to characterize the response of free gold particles to flash flotation conditions has been developed. The test has been performed on free milling gold ores as well as synthetic ores, using either a gravity concentrate or gold powder as the gold source, to assess the floatability of gold particles. Trends in free gold flotation kinetics, as well as size and milling effects, were identified for gold recovery based on the different feed types, reagent dosages, and residence times. It was shown that the ultimate recoveries and kinetic trends of gold particles from the gravity concentrate could be enhanced with increased dosage of collector, potassium amyl xanthate. Interestingly, in comparison to gravity-recoverable gold, recovery from pure Au powders was better in collectorless flotation, and cumulative recovery decreased with higher levels of collector addition. Improved coarse particle recovery appeared linked to increased collector additions for both the gravity concentrate and the pure gold powders. In general, coarse gold particles demonstrated slower kinetic rates than the fine or intermediate components incomparable tests. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37446 http://www.saimm.co.za/Journal/v115n02p103.pdf Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy fulltext
spellingShingle flotation
natural hydrophobicity
flash flotation
gold
kinetics
McGrath, Teresa
Eksteen, Jacques
Heath, J.
The behaviour of free gold particles in a simulated flash flotation environment
title The behaviour of free gold particles in a simulated flash flotation environment
title_full The behaviour of free gold particles in a simulated flash flotation environment
title_fullStr The behaviour of free gold particles in a simulated flash flotation environment
title_full_unstemmed The behaviour of free gold particles in a simulated flash flotation environment
title_short The behaviour of free gold particles in a simulated flash flotation environment
title_sort behaviour of free gold particles in a simulated flash flotation environment
topic flotation
natural hydrophobicity
flash flotation
gold
kinetics
url http://www.saimm.co.za/Journal/v115n02p103.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37446