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Flotation Flowsheets

This document discusses flotation flowsheets for mineral processing. It provides several examples of how flotation cells can be arranged in different configurations depending on the mineralogy and desired concentrate grades. The first example shows a simple flowsheet using a single flotation cell for recovering one mineral from gangue. Additional examples show using multiple cells in series for two-stage cleaning to produce high-grade concentrates. Reversing partitions in cleaner cells allows recirculation of material for further processing. The document also discusses applications for treating ores where minerals are closely associated, requiring fine grinding. It provides an example flowsheet using flotation cells for selective recovery of lead and zinc. Finally, it discusses how flot

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Rodrigo García
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159 views

Flotation Flowsheets

This document discusses flotation flowsheets for mineral processing. It provides several examples of how flotation cells can be arranged in different configurations depending on the mineralogy and desired concentrate grades. The first example shows a simple flowsheet using a single flotation cell for recovering one mineral from gangue. Additional examples show using multiple cells in series for two-stage cleaning to produce high-grade concentrates. Reversing partitions in cleaner cells allows recirculation of material for further processing. The document also discusses applications for treating ores where minerals are closely associated, requiring fine grinding. It provides an example flowsheet using flotation cells for selective recovery of lead and zinc. Finally, it discusses how flot

Uploaded by

Rodrigo García
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Flotation Flowsheets

911metallurgist.com/blog/flotation-flowsheets

LD December 14, 2015


Michaud

For a bulk or one mineral flotation operation

For one mineral or bulk flotation operation where separate cleaner cell or
cells are necessary to produce a high grade concentrate. Without
changing launders, feed can be introduced into second or third cell,
utilizing first or first two cells as cleaners. Cleaner’s tailings join the
initial feed and recirculate through the machine.

When using amalgamation where reagents cannot be added to grinding


mill and no conditioning tank is available, second cell is used as
emulsifier or conditioner.

Used where minerals are closely associated and very fine grinding is
required to free values. By reversing partitions in cleaner cell, cleaner
tailings can be returned to grinding mill to use as “make up” dilution,
giving further grinding to middling particles.

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Treating ores where it is difficult to make a high grade concentrate, due
to tendency of other minerals to float with minerals desired in
concentrate.

Very often used on lead, lead-zinc and other base metal ores where grade
of concentrate is of first importance, utilizing two stage cleaning or
cleaner and recleaner circuit.

Where close association of desired mineral with other mineral or gangue,


requires regarding of a middling product to produce high grade
concentrate with low tailing.

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Flotation Machine simplifies flowsheet designs, lowers the first cost of
equipment, and at the same time reduces the cost of treating ores and
produces a higher grade selective product. Flowsheet No. 1 is typical of a
gold bearing sulphide ore, wherein a major recovery of gold values is
made by means of the Mineral Jig, and subsequently recoveries of gold
and sulphide values are made by means of a “Sub-A” Flotation Machine
accounts for additional recovery of gold values to bring the total plant
recovery to 90-97 percent of the gold contained in the ore. This is the
simplest flowsheet used in separating one mineral from the gangue, and
is recommended where important amounts of precious metals are
contained in an ore. In larger plants, utilizing flotation for the recovery of
ore base metal where precious metal values are of secondary importance,
a similar flowsheet but with the substitution of the Flotation Cell in the
grinding circuit would be applicable.

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This flowsheet shows the use of a “Sub-A” Flotation Machines for
selective flotation producing high grade lead and zinc products. The Unit
Flotation Cell and Mineral Jig recover 73.2 percent of the gold and 61.4
percent of the lead in a concentrate that only concentrates 2.3 percent
zinc. Additional lead recovery is made in the lead section to give a total
recovery of 96.4 percent of the lead in the lead concentrate. The zinc
flotation section recovers 68.8 percent of the zinc in a concentrate having
average grade of 59.6 percent of zinc. High recoveries, simultaneous with
high grade products are possible only through the use of a “Sub-A”
Flotation Machines which are designed to incorporate not only superior
mechanical features, but also to apply fundamental flotation principles
with the highest efficiency.

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This flowsheet shows the application of a “Sub-A” Flotation Machines in
the non-metallic mineral industries and is typical of the flotation of
fluorspar. In mills of this type an important consideration in plant design
is the flexibility of the flow through a flotation machine in order to
minimum installation costs, keeps the space required at a minimum and
provide flexibility without necessity of major changes. The “Sub-A”
Flotation Machine is easily adapted to these conditions, as shown in this
flowsheet. A few slight modifications make it possible to discharge ‘o
final tailings at the end of practically any number of cells that may be
desired for rougher flotation and middlings can also be drawn off at
desired points. Concentrates can be cleaned and recleaned as desired. A
few simple changes which require only a few minutes to make result in
the production of any grade of concentrate desired. The “Sub-A”
Flotation Machines are used in non-metallic flotation for treating either
coarse or fine materials. In some cases non-metallics all passing 325
mesh, are floated with the productions of high grade products since the
machine actually floats minerals selectively, and does not contaminate
products by conveying gangue slimes mechanically entrained with the
concentrate. Selective action of the a “Sub-A” cells is distinctive and far
more desirable than the classifier action so common with cells where air
is introduced under pressure. On the other hand, on materials requiring
coarser sizes for marketing purposes. The “Sub-A” Flotation Machines
are used because they are the only machines that can satisfactorily handle
such materials.

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