Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company (Zapolyarnyy, Murmansk Region, Russia):

Likhacheva S. V., Leading Specialist, LikhachevaSV@kolagmk.ru

Geologial Institute of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academyof Sciences (Apatity, Murmansk Region, Russia):
Neradovskiy Yu. N., Acting Leading Researcher, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, nerad@geoksc.apatity.ru

The purpose of the research consists in analysis of main reasons for increased talc content in Pechenga copper-nickel ores concentrates and possible ways to decrease this content. It is shown, that during flotation increased quantities of particles of the two main rockforming minerals — talc and serpentine are accumulated in the finest size fraction, and through cleaner and flotation operations go into concentrate or tailings. By means of X-ray data it is established, that talc particles are mostly accumulated in concentrate, and serpentine particles — in tailings. Electron microscope observation provided for the study of the mineral particles’ morphology, showing, that fine flaky particle shapes are mostly characteristic for talc, and isometric and tabular — for serpentine. Flaky shape of talc particles is responsible for their higher-rate transfer in slurry flows and accumulation in froth products. Increase of talc particles quantities in concentrate is also caused by low hardness of the mineral, giving rise to overgrinding. So, accumulation of talc in concentrate is caused by quite specific reasons. It is the authors' opinion that accumulation of talc in concentrate may be decreased through control of the mineral content in feed ore and duration of its grinding, as well as through removal of slime particles from the process.

1. Zashikhin N. V. Study of material composition and development of beneficiation technology of sulphide coppernickel ores. Obogashchenie Rud. 1957. No. 5. pp. 29–34.
2. Vaneev I. I., Gorlovskiy S. I., Zashikhin N. V., Lipkina T. E. On the theory and practice of application of polymers in the beneficiation of ores of nonferrous metals. Proceedings of the V Scientific and Technical session of the Mekhanobr Institute. Leningrad, 1967. Vol. 1. pp. 323–346.
3. Spiridonov G. V., Kravtsova O. A. Geological and technological types of ores of the Pechenga ore field deposits. Collection of scientific papers. Leningrad: Gipronikel, 1985. pp. 10–17.
4. Sklyadneva L. F. Disseminated poor copper-nickel ores processing. Apatity: Kolskiy Nauchnyy Tsentr Rossiyskoy Akademii Nauk, 1994. 106 p.
5. Blatov I. A., Kostritsyn V. N., Kotov V. S., Spiridonov G. V. Geological and technological types of Pechenga ores and their processing development. Scientific and technological progress in the mining enterprises of the Polar region. Leningrad: Nauka, 1998. pp. 161–165.
6. Likhacheva S. V., Neradovskiy Yu. N., Vasilyeva O. A. Study of the interrelationship of the mineral composition and technological parameters of Pechenga copper-nickel ores flotation. Proceedings of the International Conference «Resource-saving and environmental protection in beneficiation and mineral processing». Plaksin’s Readings – 2016. St. Petersburg, 2016. pp. 148–150.
7. Neradovskiy Yu. N., Likhacheva S. V. Special features of Pechenga copper-nickel ores concentrates particle-size distribution. Obogashchenie Rud. 2007. No. 2. pp. 30–34.
8. Yastrebov K. L., Kulikov I. M., Leonov N. B., Koreneva A. M. The dependence of the results of autogenous mills operation from the physical and mechanical properties of the ores and rocks. Ore beneficiation. Irkutsk, 1986. pp. 29–35.
9. Boriskina Z. M., Baiborodin B. A., Kurbalov V. N., Malinovich G. I. Study of mica ores beneficiation at similar densities due to differences in the form. Ore beneficiation. Irkutsk, 1986. pp. 39–41.
10. Ten Yu. M., Yastrebov K. L., Bayborodin B. A. On the question of research of the main aspects of suspended flow hydrodynamics to improve the process of washing and beneficiation of gold sands. Ore beneficiation. Irkutsk, 2002. pp. 48–52.
11. Fomenko T. G. Determination of velocity of free and constrained fall of mineral particles. Beneficiation of ores and placers. Magadan, 1956. Iss. 6. p. 20.
12. Schubert H., Bischofberger C., Koch P. Über den Einfluß der Hidrodynamik auf Flotationprozesse. Aufbereitungs-Techn. 1982. 6. S. 306–315.

13. Koch P. Die Einflüsse der Konstruktion und Betribsweise von Rühren in mechanischen Flotationsapparaten auf die Hydrodynamik des Dreiphasensystems und den Flotationserfolg. Freiberger Forschungsheft. 1975. A 546.
14. Koch P., Weiß Th., Schubert H., Bischofberger G. Zum Einfluß der Charakteristik der turbulenten Strömung auf den Flotationsproceß. Vortrag 7. Diskussionstagung «Verfahrenstechnik». Köthen, Ingenierurhohshule, Sept. 1985.
15. Kononov O. V., Kotova E. L., Ustinov I. D. A combined technology for talcose molybdenite-gold ore processing. Obogashchenie Rud. 2015. No. 5. pp. 9–13.
16. Arsentyev V. A., Vaisberg L. A. Directions of creating technologies and devices for beneficiation of finely divided mineral resources while minimizing the use of water. Proceedings of the International Conference «Progressive methods of beneficiation and complex processing of natural and technogenic mineral raw materials». Plaksin’s Readings — 2014. Almaty, Sept. 16–19, 2014. pp. 5–6.
17. Salomatova S. I., Matveev A. I. Study the process of flotation separation of minerals on the rotating fluid surface. Proceedings of the International Conference «Progressive methods of beneficiation and complex processing of natural and technogenic mineral raw materials». Plaksin’s Readings — 2014, Almaty, Sept. 16–19, 2014. pp. 234–236.
18. Shirman G. V., Matveev A. I. Study the process of clay materials washing in the machines for disintegration and classification. Proceedings of the International Conference «Resource-saving and environmental protection in beneficiation and mineral processing». Plaksin’s Readings — 2016, St. Petersburg, 2016. pp. 628–631.
19. Sun C. Y., Zhang X. R., Yu Y., Song Z. G. The mechanism on separation of scheelite and calcium minerals in heating cleaning process. Proceedings of the XXVII International Mineral Processing Gongress. 2014. Chap. 7. pp. 133–143.