Abstract
This paper is focused on recovering
residual sulfide minerals by flotation from the tailing of the Pyhäsalmi
Cu-Zn mine in Finland. The tailing contains 4–8% sulfide sulfur and
according to the static test it is strongly acid producing, having a low
ratio of neutralization potential to acid production potential (NP/AP
< 1). The NP/AP ratio could be markedly improved (> 1) by
flotation treatment of the tailing. Fine pyrite caused sulfide losses in
the flotation while incomplete liberation had only a minor effect on
the acid production potential. The cleaner concentrate obtained during
the flotation of the tailing contained 33% sulfur, 1% zinc, 0.7% copper,
2.8 g/t gold, and 40 g/t silver. Potential process options are
available today for partial beneficiation of the concentrate but further
development work is needed for recovering all the valuable elements and
eliminating the waste pile.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 225-230 |
| Journal | Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1997 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |