Author 1:
Name & Surname: Ignatkina V. A.
Company: Mining Institute of National University of Science and Technology MISiS (Moscow, Russia)
Work Position: Professor
Scientific Degree: Doctor of Engineering Sciences
Contacts: e-mail: woda@mail.ru

Author 2:
Name & Surname: Bocharov V. A.
Company: Mining Institute of National University of Science and Technology MISiS (Moscow, Russia)
Work Position: Professor
Scientific Degree: Doctor of Engineering Sciences

The article reports studies on flotation of sphalerite of various modifications. The regular patterns found in absorption of oxide by iron-containing sphalerite and fine-crystalline pyrite in grinding in porcelain mills with modifiers in caustic soda environment are described. Oxide absorption by fine-crystalline pyrite decreases in the presence of sulphur-containing modifiers while iron-bearing sphalerite absorbs much oxide. Without secondary copper sulfides, sphalerite exhibits weaker floatability. Non-activated with copper cations, sphalerite is separated from chalcopyrite at рН ≥ 9÷10 likewise pyrite. Copper sulfides ground with sphalerite in an alkaline medium activate flotation ability of sphalerite in the following sequence: Cu₂S ≥ CuS > Cu₅FeS₄ ≥ CuFeS₂. Floatability of sphalerite activated by copper cations is enhanced with increase in the medium alkalinity. It is shown that the classical suppressor—cyanide—fails to ensure high performance of sphalerite separation in the presence of secondary copper sulfides. In a lime medium (when pH > 10), floatability of tennantite decreases in the sodium sulfide solution; the suppressing ability of sodium sulfide is much weaker in a soda environment. The authors make recommendations on more comprehensive utilization of process features of minerals under separation.
The studies were supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 14-17-00393.

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