Moscow State Mining University (National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”), Moscow, Russia:

V. A. Bocharov, Professor (Chair of Ore Concentration)

College of Ecotechnologies and Engineering (National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”), Moscow, Russia:
V. A. Ignatkina, Professor (Chair of Ore Concentration), e-mail: woda@mail.ru

This paper shows the physicochemical characteristics and flotation characteristics of genetic varieties of pyrite deposits of the Urals. Pyrite ores of non-ferrous metals with varying metamorphism degrees have different crystal structure, surface defects, physical and chemical properties. That’s why, they have their technological features. Pyrite flotability depends on genesis of different species, which is associated with unequal number of sulfur atoms in pyrite lattice, presence of impurities, defective surface, grain size and composition of mineral associations. Flotation of sulfides is changed by presence of copper cations in pyrite or copper and iron cations in sphalerite. Pyrite and sphalerite are activated by copper cations, which increases their floatability. At the same time, sphalerite is passivated by iron cations in lime environment. Significant problem of selective flotation creates secondary and oxidized copper minerals, which increase floatability of iron sulfides and sphalerite. According to this, their flotation activity becomes comparable with chalcopyrite. Easy flotation with separation of qualitative monomineral concentrates is used for copper-containing sulfide ores, which macrocrystalline pyrite structure is represented. There is shown the influence of pulp pH and modifiers’ concentration on pyrite oxidation degree, determined by the quantity of absorbed oxygen and concentration of obtained products of sulfide sulfur oxidation of pyrite and iron cations. According to the number of saturation of liquid phase of sulfide pulp by sulfur oxidation products, sulfides are placed in the following row: FeS₂ > CuFeS₂ > ZnS > Cu₁₀Fe₂As₄S₁₃ > Cu₅FeS₄. Inter-stage grinding and inter-stage flotations are recommended for the purpose of withdrawal of different flotation sulfide fractions from the process. Conditioning modes with selective collectors and modifiers make a significant influence. Introduction of industrial product flotation makes possible to unlock flotation cycles and withdraw more tailing pyrite output. The output of different flotation pyrite fractions in copper, zinc and bulk flotation cycles, using a combination of sulfhydryl collectors with optimal ratio of components with different sorption capacity, makes possible to obtain richer marketable concentrates with high extraction of copper and zinc in the same concentrates.
This work was financially supported by a grant of Russian Research Fund (project No. 14-17-00393).

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