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By E. Pizarro, A. Videla, G. Compan

One of the main problems related to mining investment decisions is the use of accurate prediction models. Metallurgical recovery is a major source of variability, and in this regard, the Chuquicamata processing plant recovery was modelled as a function of geomining-metallurgical data and ore characteristics obtained from a historical database. In particular, the dataset gathered contains information related to feed grades, ore hardness, particle size, mineralogy, pH, and flotation reagents. A systemic approach was applied to fit a multivariate regression model representing the copper recovery in the plant. The systemic approach consists of an initial projection of the characteristic grinding product size (P80), based upon energy consumption at the particle size reduction step, followed by a flotation recovery model. The model allows for an improvement in the investment decision process by predicting performance and risk. The final geometallurgical model uses eight operational variables and is a significant improvement over conventional prediction models. A validation was performed using a recent data-set, and this showed a high correlation coefficient with a low mean absolute error, which reveals that the geometallurgical model is able to predict, with acceptable accuracy, the actual copper recovery in the plant.

Jan 1, 2015

By Kazusuke Sato, Takahiro Uno, Koji Hoshino

"A novel Ni coating technique of Ni(OH)2 powders was developed to improve the positive-electrode performance· of the Ni-MH batteries. It was found out that Ni(OH)2 powder was reduced by N2H4 without any catalysts in an alkaline - solution at high temperatures. In result of observation of pH and potential changes in the solution during the reaction, it was found that the reduced species was HNio2- ion dissociated from Ni(OH)2 in the alkaline solution. The molar fraction of reduced Ni of the Ni(OH)2 was increased in proportion to the amount of added N2H4. At the small Ni fraction, a porous Ni layer was formed on the surface of Ni(OH)2 powder. Open cell tests were carried out with the paste type electrodes made of either the Ni coated Ni(OH)2 powder or non-coat powder, and cell performances were compared. In result, it was found that the Ni coating technique is effective on improvement in the utilization of Ni(OH); as a positive-electrode active material under high current densities.IntroductionNi-MH rechargeable battery is generally used for the power source of portable machines and electric vehicles because of its good performance at high energy density and. long term cyclical life as well as cleanness and good safety. Cell component materials have been improved respectively, and as concerns ·the positive-electrode reducing 'the internal resistance is a principal problem to improve the discharging performance at higher current densities.In recent years, improved Ni(OH)2 powders coated with conductive materials as NI. or CoOOH have been developed for the· positive-electrode active materials in order to· reduce the internal resistance of the electrode1)· 2) The Ni coated Ni(OH)2, however, is costly because it is fabricated by .the -non-electrode plate technique which needs a expensive precious ·metal catalyst as PdC12We found that Ni(OH)2 powder was reduced by N2H4 without any cryatalysts in an alkaline solution at high temperatures. After the treatment, Ni(OH)2 powder become gray color like Ni powder from light-green color; and. turned into a magnetic. In this study, the mechanism of the -reducing reaction was investigated to apply the reactions .to a novel Ni coating technique of Ni(OH)2 powders, · and the performance of the Ni coated Ni(OH)2 powder obtained by the reducing process was evaluated as an -positive-electrode active material of Ni-MH batteries."

Jan 1, 2000

By G. H. Cutter

SAFETY in mining depends on wire rope to as great, if not greater, extent than in any other industry. Sudden failure of a shaft-hoist rope might easily result in death or serious injury to the operators and workmen, extensive damage to expensive equipment, and a loss in production while repairs are being made. A wire rope is only as good as its component parts. It must be made from wire properly drawn and treated. It must be fabricated on machines large enough and capable of imparting the necessary qualities to meet the stringent service conditions. However, unless the fundamental requirement of good ropemaking is recognized, all other operations, no matter how carefully performed, will not impart reliability and quality to the product. This fundamental requirement is steel that is homogeneous, of high resistance to fatigue, and of a type suitable for rope wire. Most wire-rope manufacturers agree that rope wire should be made from acid-open-hearth steel. It is comparatively easy to meet the same physical properties with basic steel, but such properties are only part of the requirements for good wire. It is absolutely necessary, particularly for rope service such as mining, where reliability is essential, that the wire be uniform throughout its entire length. Most manufacturers feel that this highly important requirement is better met by acid-open-hearth steel.

Jan 1, 1936

By K Williams, G M. Evans, S M. Iveson, K P. Galvin, C E. Loo

The Australian Research Council (ARC) has recently established an Industrial Transformation Research Hub in the area of iron ore, focused on iron ore characterisation, beneficiation, materials handling and end-use functionality. The research hubs are part of a new initiative aimed at building stronger relationships between industry and universities, while addressing issues of national significance. The ARC Research Hub for Advanced Technologies for Australian Iron Ore will focus its attention on developing innovative approaches for creating enhanced value across the full value chain through the characterisation of different ore types, beneficiation and materials handling and transport. This hub brings together five industrial organisations and a research team formed from well-established research groups based at the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources. These groups have a record of working closely with industry to create opportunities. Examples include new beneficiation technologies such as the Reflux Classifier for achieving gravity separation, the expertise of TUNRA Bulk Solids in materials handling and the Iron Making Centre at Newcastle, which is a capability maintained by BHP Billiton following the closure of its Technology Centre in 2009. The purpose of this paper is to provide an outline of the research hub and its objectives, some background on the research groups that now form the hub and an insight into the strategy adopted for developing and implementing new technologies. The paper also describes a range of novel technologies that have the potential to be developed and applied to iron ore beneficiation.CITATION:Galvin, K P, Roberts, A, Loo, C E, Evans, G M, Williams, K and Iveson, S M, 2015. Australian Research Council research hub for advanced technologies for Australian iron ore – an introduction, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 7–12 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By J Bolen, I Cameron, M Huerta, M Okrutny, K O’Leary

As greater amounts of fine iron ore concentrates enter the marketplace, new investments in iron ore pelletising capacity are inevitable to deliver these concentrates to steel industry consumers. When investors assess the two well-proven pelletising technologies, the straight grate and grate-kiln, the most appropriate choice may not be immediately evident. Certain technical, market and site-specific factors will favour one technology over the other; investors need to be aware and understand these factors in order to make the best investment decision. Hatch has compared the merits of both technologies regarding plant configuration; type of iron ore processed; energy consumption and flexibility to use a variety of fuels; ability to produce the required pellet quality; required plant capacity and scale; operating and capital costs and environmental performance. A technology assessment checklist that investors should consider when making a new pellet plant investment decision is presented.CITATION:Huerta, M, Bolen, J, Okrutny, M, Cameron, I and O’Leary, K, 2015. Guidelines for selecting pellet plant technology, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 45–52 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By Yoginder P. Chugh, K. V. K. Prasad, R. Missavage

This paper presents results of field monitoring and finite element studies to analyze and improve a room-and-pillar retreat mining system. Fie1 d instrumentation was utilized to monitor pi11ar load changes, roof to floor convergence and differential roof strata movement as retreat mining progressed and to determine in-situ horizontal stresses. A two-dimensional finite element model depicting strata behavior at this mine was developed and used to analyze existing and alternate improved mining geometries. The results showed excellent correlation between fie1 d observed and model predicted behavior. Some of the recommended changes in mining geometry based on the study were incorporated in the mining system.

Jan 1, 1986

By R. H. Schonewille

One of the many challenges in developing new metallurgical processes is choosing the best option for validating process design parameters and establishing the process operating window. Historically this has been achieved by constructing pilot or demonstration plants of considerable size and complexity, to enable integrated operation of all key process units for a significant duration. While this would appear to be the best option for minimizing technical risk, it is often impractical from a perspective of cost, schedule, resources or bulk sample acquisition. Such an undertaking can even provide a false sense of security, as the optics of running a complete scaled-down version of a commercial plant suggest a high level of process understanding, regardless of the challenges encountered during operation. Xstrata Nickel has undertaken numerous process development and improvement projects over the past 15 years to support green field project development and continuous improvement in existing operations. The approaches used have included; computer simulation, cold flow modeling, construction of pilot test units in third party facilities, commercial plant referencing and the more conventional construction of integrated test plants. Regardless of the strategy employed, the keys to success have included; managing stakeholder expectations, involving the commercial plant design engineers in the planning stage, anticipating subsequent data and sample requirements and most importantly, constructing and operating complex demonstration plants only as a last resort. This paper provides examples of various process development approaches used by Xstrata Nickel and discusses the rationale specific to each project.

Jan 1, 2011

By C. B. Alcock

The control of high temperature processes requires the ability to measure significant variables during operations. With increasing automatic computerized control there is need for sensors which can provide on-line chemical analyses of all phases present in a reactor without the necessity to withdraw samples from the high temperature reaction zone. Probes using electrochemical cells and conductivity measuring devices have provided the answers to some of these problems, notably the measurement of oxygen in liquid metals, and similar potential systems based on the same fundamental principles for the analysis of non-metallic and metallic elements appear feasible. In this discussion, the state-of-the-art in chemical sensors will be discussed in terms of the potential materials of construction, and, in some cases, the limitations of upper temperature at which some promising systems can, at present, be applied. It is concluded that a new phase of basic research could improve the outlook substantially by providing solutions for some problems in chemical sensors which are now well-defined.

Jan 1, 1990

By Ronald J. Doll, John Elkin, M. P. Evans

The application of "Alignment Free” right angle shaft mounted drive systems offers improved reliability and reduced costs for surface and underground belt convey- ors. Comparisons to conventional approaches will cover installation, operating, maintenance, and spares inventory cost savings. Various options for belt acceleration and load control on fixed and variable length (booster) belt conveyors will be reviewed for operating performance, reliability, and total cost. Lastly, a case study of a successfully operating installation will be highlighted.

Jan 1, 1996

By Roberto C. G. Oliveira, Scott C. Brown, Brij M. Moudgil

The wettability or surface energy of particle surfaces dictates a number of multiphase ensemble interactions that have a significant impact in mineral processing. Dispersion, bulk powder handling and flotation behavior are just a few of the parameters that are largely due to the degree of hydrophillicity or hydrophobicity on particulate surfaces. Because of the inherent impact of surface wettability in nearly all industries, fields, and multi-phase interactions, a number of simple, precise and accurate techniques for accessing surface wettability or contact angle on macroscopic flat surfaces have been developed. However, these techniques cannot be directly applied to the particulate surfaces that are often in query. Though a number of techniques are available for accessing the wettability of particulate surfaces, these methods are either relative, application specific or prohibitively tedious. In this study, key features of existing techniques are combined to formulate an improved method to delineate particle wettability that is simple, versatile and capable of providing reproducible measurements in an industrial environment.

Jan 1, 2003

By C. E. Jordan

The Bureau of Mines has investigated the fundamentals of fatty acid/fuel oil conditioning for improved flotation selectivity. Both conditioning time and intensity can provide optimum flotation selectivity as well as good recovery. Traditional conditioning seeks to optimize conditioning parameters with subsequent recovery of the hydrophobic mineral. In the fatty acid/fuel oil system many silica gangue particles are also rendered hydrophobic by the flotation collector. Fundamental studies have shown that particle-particle collisions transfer the collector reagents selectively to the mineral surfaces with the highest affinity for the reagent. This mechanism deactivates the gangue particles while increasing the collector reagent loading on the selected mineral. The degree of this transformation is directly related to the number of particle-particle collisions which can be controlled through conditioning time or conditioning mixing intensity.

Jan 1, 1995

By Jr. Goller

You and I can visit cement plants, inspect the various rotary kiln systems and find some equipment or some burning techniques that waste energy--fuel and power. After we have made such a visit and studied a few ideas, we could recommend ways to eliminate much of this waste. Probably every idea would cost money to bring into action. For our discussion, let us arbitrarily set an upper limit of $1,000,000 on the recommendations that we are allowed to make. Call these "low-cost" or "short-term" measures. They are improvements that do not require more than say, three months to complete; they do not require a major revision to the process. Other recommendations are "high-cost" or "long-term"; they are outside the scope of this discussion. Some of our "low-cost" recommendations would offer a satisfactory return on the money that they cost; the remainder would not. Now, is there some way that we can rather quickly pick out the "low-cost" measures that will show a satisfactory return and spend our time making these improvements first? Can we separate these items from those where the return is less likely to be good? I feel that we can pick some of these items quickly if we have a kiln system that has consistently non-uniform day-to-day operation. If the operation is uniform we probably cannot pick them quickly.

Jan 1, 1977

By Paul Gilmour

"The principal role of the geologist is to recognize the existence of phenomena before trying to explain them" - B.M. Keilau, 1825; A. Holmes, 1965 Some important groups of mineral deposits in the layered rocks of orogenic belts or greenstone belts occur in horizons characterized by the presence of exceptional amounts of silica, iron and carbon, with more or less significant amounts of manganese. Generally, the rocks involved are well banded. In practice, these five physical features - four compositional and one geometric - are found with many lithological guises. Iron formation, in the full, modern sense of the term (James, 1954), quartzite, ferruginous quartzite, chert, jasper, "tetsusekiei" (Horikoshi, 1969), tuffaceous jasper ("purple porphyry" - Anderson and Creasey, 1958, p. 36), ferruginous or graphitic shale, argillite, slate or schist, and hematitic tuff are but a few of the more familiar of the names that have been assigned to these rocks. Widely acknowledged and well-documented examples of metallic deposits found in such sediments include concentrations of iron and manganese and stratabound, polymetallic, massive pyritic sulfides. Less familiar examples include occurrences of asbestos (Miles, 1953; and Coetzee, et al., 1976), antimony (Coetzee, 1976), and perhaps stratabound deposits of Au-Cu-U-W-etc., such as Aitik in Sweden (Mining Magazine, 1975; and Nilsson, 1979) and Olympic Dam in South Australia (Roberts and Hudson, 1983). The case of gold is intriguing. An association between gold and iron formation has been identified at several famous deposits and districts, such as Yellowknife, N.W.T. (Morton, 1979), Homestake, S. Dak. (Sawkins and Rye, 1974), Vubachikwe, Zimbabwe (Fripp, 1976) and the Barberton district, R.S.A. (Hammerbeck, 1976). Yet a critical reading reveals the existence of many other hitherto unsuspected examples. The purpose of this note is to draw attention to that omission and the apparent explanation for it. It is not hard to detect the two most probable reasons for the discrepancy between reality and the record.Most occurrences of gold are associated, not with the familiar banded iron formation or interbedded magnetite and chert (technically, the magnetite-banded variety of the oxide facies), but with the enigmatic carbonate, sulfide and silicate facies of iron formation and/or with rocks evidently related to iron formation. All too commonly, the unfamiliar facies of iron formation have been identified by field and mine geologists and not a few researchers as products of regional metamorphism and hydrothermal alteration, as mafic igneous rocks, or as conventional sediments, ie., without regard to their intrinsically ferruginous nature. The justification for these two complementary assertions is largely to be found in the recognition of a characteristic suite of metals and minerals in gold deposits known to be associated with iron formations. Although, from a geological standpoint, a lithological association is more important than a mineralogical assemblage, the latter is the more likely of the two to be diagnostic. This arises from the different natures of mineral and rock classifications, The identification of a mineral or an element is a matter of fact. Owing to the genetic component inseparable from petrographic nomenclature, viz., "igneous": a rock (believed to have been) derived from a melt, the identification of rocks depends on inferences or conclusions about their mode of formation - conclusions that are commonly debatable and, all too often, involve subjective judgements. This is especially prone to be true, if - as at many of the gold occurrences in question - the host rocks have been metamorphosed and/or "altered". In the notes that follow greater weight has accordingly been assigned to elemental and mineralogical than to host rock composition. In other words, if, in a given gold occurrence, the suite of metals and minerals present conforms to the standards of the subject class, whereas the names assigned to host rocks do not, the latter will be viewed as suspect.

Jan 1, 1985

By Carl Verholek

Remote control systems for industrial applications have advanced since the early 20 years, increasing its capabilities by utilizing new electronic technology. This electronic “tool” has benefited many mining operations, making them a safer place to work and at the same time more productive. Almost any operation that presently uses a man at the controls of the machine or using a wired tether control, is a candidate for improvement by the addition of a remote control. Remote control systems add safety, reliability and productivity at a cost that is usually recovered in mere months after installation.

May 25, 1998

By Bernard F. Anderson

INTRODUCTION In this chapter, the term "down-the-hole drill" (DTH drill) is used as a generic name that encompasses the various trade names and other references such as "downhole drill," "in-the-hole drill," etc. This chapter is limited to a description of DTH drills used in stoping large underground ore bodies. DTH drills differ from conventional drills by virtue of the placement of the drill in the drill string. The DTH drill follows immediately behind the bit into the hole, rather than remaining on the feed as with ordinary drifters. Thus, no energy is dissipated through the steel or couplings, and the penetration rate is nearly constant, regardless of the depth of the hole. Since the drill must operate on compressed air and tolerates only small amounts of water, cuttings are flushed either by air with water-mist injection or by standard mine air with a dust collector at the collar. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT Mine managers have long known the economies enjoyed by quarry and open-pit operators in producing large quantities of ore. The savings are due primarily to the availability of massive equipment, capable of drilling large blastholes to reduce the amount of drilling, increase the fragmentation, reduce secondary blasting, and im¬prove the flow of the product. In an attempt to reduce underground mining costs, various methods are used for long-hole drilling, includ¬ing standard pneumatic percussion drifters and diamond drills. These systems have their shortcomings; percus¬sion drills are limited to small hole sizes and they ex¬perience excessive deviation and significant loss of energy with increased depth. The diamond drills provide deeper and straighter holes, but only at high cost. Both systems suffer from high noise levels, low penetration rates, and poor explosives distribution, among other problems. When the mining companies approached the drill manufacturers for a compact and portable large-hole jumbo for underground use, they specified not more than 1 % deviation on 60 m (200 ft) of vertical hole and a penetration rate of 15 m/h (50 fph). On Dec. 23, 1960, a test unit was placed in service in Montana and met the performance criteria. Though lacking the so¬phisticated features available today, the economies of surface blasting were brought underground. Unfortunately, the first system did not gain immedi¬ate acceptance in the industry. Among the factors con¬tributing to its demise were resistance to change, the need to alter development methods for the ore bodies, and a lack of flexibility in moving the rig from setup to setup and from level to level. In 1972, the mining industry again challenged the drill manufacturers to provide a workable jumbo that would combine compactness, ease of maintenance, relia¬bility, and efficiency, all on a self-propelled chassis. The manufacturers responded by providing improved jumbos, which have been accepted with enthusiasm throughout the mining industry. Today's DTH jumbos are capable of drilling from 100 to 200 mm (4 to 8 in.) diam holes that can be reamed to even larger diameters. The holes can be drilled to depths of 150 m (500 ft), depending upon ground conditions and the capability of the jumbo to retrieve the steel and drill. Fig. 1 illustrates a typical DTH jumbo. APPLICATIONS The uses to which DTH drill jumbos have been put are quite numerous, with new uses being found regularly. For convenience, these uses may be classified as primary blastholes and nonblasting holes. Primary Blastholes The original purpose for the development of the DTH jumbo was for drilling primary blastholes that could be mined by open-stope methods. Prior to the advent of the DTH jumbo, extensive development was required before production drilling could begin. Sub¬levels were required to allow access for column-and-arm stopers or ring/fan jumbos, to the extent necessary based on the effective penetration of the chosen machine. With the DTH jumbo, the mine engineer is able to reduce preproduction time and development costs. How¬ever, the most significant saving results from an im¬proved cost per ton of broken ore in the production phase. To utilize a DTH system, only a top heading and drawpoints are necessary. The top heading can be the width of the ore body with a 3.7-m (12-ft) back. A drop-raise pattern is drilled and shot to begin the stoping operation, providing a free face for subsequent blasting. A typical layout is illustrated in Fig. 2. The advantages of this system include: 1) Drilling and blasting are independent operations, and blasting can be performed at a rate congruous with the mine's ton-per-day capacity. 2) The development layout is simplified. 3) Good explosive distribution is achieved, provid¬ing more uniform fragmentation. 4) Environmental conditions for operators are im¬proved, including improved safety with all work directed downward (not overhead), lower noise levels, little fog, and a reduced dust count. 5) Improved production per manshift. 6) Simplified and easier operator work cycles. 7) Reduced cost per ton of product. 8) Fewer holes lost due to ground shifts. Nonblasting Holes With the introduction of the compact DTH jumbos, other practical uses became apparent, including the drilling of: 1) Holes for sand fill, from level to level and from level to stope. 2) Drain and dewatering holes. 3) Power and communications cable holes.

Jan 1, 1982

By Osvaldo A. Bascur

This paper presents a real time software infrastructure with people tools that gives the users the ability to sift through available data, transform data into information for business continuous improvement and optimization. In this sense, the paper introduce a simple collaborative tool to add context to business areas or assets for getting things done in an industrial complex

Sep 12, 2011

By Larry Lynott

This paper summarizes the benefits ofusing an in-situ analyzer in a sampling and valuation program. The tests and studies cited quantify the problems associated with current conventional sampling techniques and contrast conventionally-obtained results with those obtained through in-situ analysis. Data are presented to show the improved precision in valuation resulting from the in-situ method. Greater precision in estimating the mineral content of unmined ground becomes increasingly important as mines strive for optimum exploitation of their deposits. As the following analysis shows, the variable distribution of minerals within a deposit, along with the difficulty and the cost of high density sampling limits the precision which is currently possible in practice. An inherent problem exists in the conventional method of sampling. The erratic values of ore grade necessitate the collection oflarge numbers of samples for statistically accurate valuation and ore reserve estimation. Owing to the cost of manpower, current sampling techniques do not allow for the collection of sufficiently large numbers of samples. The most common method of sampFng in current practice is chip sampling, although bulk sampling is sometimes used. The intent of sampling is to obtain an estimate of the value of blocks of ground prior to mining. This information is used to plan the rate and sequence of mining, yet the sampling intervals which are possible in practice cause these block estimations to be ubject to considerable uncertainty. This inevitably leads to mcorrect mining decisions which may be vy costly.

Jan 1, 1998

By David Meadows, John Starkey

"As part of the ongoing project development for the Tenke Fungurume Copper-Cobalt Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Phelps Dodge Corporation has examined methodologies for determining the size of grinding mills to support a 7000 mtpd operation. Six samples were tested by Hazen Research, Inc. (HRI) to obtain the JK parameters using the JK Drop Weight Test, standard Bond crushing, and rod mill work indices, abrasion indices and by Dawson for Bond Ball Mill Work Index tests using crushed feed, and Standard Autogenous Grinding Design (SAGDesign) Tests, patented by Outokumpu. (See reference 8 below).The comparison of these results gives context to how the various measurements relate to each other and how they can be used to obtain an accurate design for the grinding mills required for the Tenke Project. This is the first published direct comparison between JK Drop Weight, standard bond work indices, and SAGDesign test results. The SAGDesign test includes a SAG test followed by a Bond BM Wi test done on SAG ground material.INTRODUCTIONAfter the presentation of the paper “SAGDesign Testing – What It Is and Why It Works” at the recently concluded SAG 2006 Conference in Vancouver, a question was asked about how SAGDesign ore hardness measurements compared with other comminution tests, specifically the JK Drop Weight Test and the parameters that are derived from such testing. At that time it was noted that a paper was being prepared for the CMP Conference in January to show how various ore hardness measurements compare with each other when done on the same samples.This paper will therefore present the first such comparison using test results from the Phelps Dodge Tenke Fungurume Project where six composite samples were examined by the tests noted below. A seventh sample was tested at Dawson but not at other labs. The tests were done at four different laboratories listed below and included the tests shown."

Jan 1, 2007

By Marcus Daubner, Karsten Beckhaus, Florian Bauer

The construction industry can and needs to contribute to a more sustainable world. Accordingly, geotechnical works potentially have a significant share. In this context, Bauer understands “sustainable products for geotechnical works” as those that may cause less emissions and increase the sustainability of construction activities. In order to structure the efforts and systematically pursue sustainable targets in the construction sector, and in the specialist foundation industry, the “17 sustainability goals” presented by the United Nations in their AGENDA 2030, can be used for general guidance and for continuous improvement. Benchmarks for relevant economic and social objectives, mainly with environmental aspects, are inevitable. The key parameter to sustainable products for geotechnical works in the focus of this paper is the optimisation of processes on site needed to fulfill the client’s building task, including the selection of technologies and construction methods with minimum environmental impact and minimum carbon footprint.

May 1, 2022

By C. Karageorgos, J. Sakala, A. Prinsloo, B. Ngambi

The sulphide flotation circuit at First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi mine in Zambia produced over 100,000 t of copper in 2019. For this circuit, mineralogical analysis has shown that the majority of the copper lost is hosted in fine liberated chalcopyrite, which is a paramagnetic mineral. The objective of this work was therefore to improve fine chalcopyrite recovery in the sulphide flotation circuit at Kansanshi, using a magnetic conditioning technology to agglomerate fine paramagnetic minerals. This theoretically increases the probability of attachment during collision and therefore improves recovery. A four-month paired ‘t’ test plant trial was carried out and comprised of consecutive ON-OFF periods with and without magnetic conditioning in the rougher flotation bank of the sulphide circuit. The experimental design involved assessment of recovery by size based on daily and weekly composite samples of feed and tails, sized using both wet-screening and cyclosizer. Both the daily plant data and the sized samples showed an increase in Cu recovery with magnetic conditioning ON. A 0.56% copper recovery improvement was measured with magnetic conditioning at a 99.4% confidence level. Keywords: Flotation, fine mineral, chalcopyrite, magnetic aggregation

Jan 1, 2020