Institute for Metallurgy and Ore Concentration, Almaty, Kazakhstan:

D. K. Turysbekov, Lead Researcher at the Laboratory of Flotation Reagents and Beneficiation, e-mail: dula@mail.ru
L. V. Semushkina, Lead Researcher at the Laboratory of Flotation Reagents and Beneficiation
А. А. Mukhanova, Research Fellow at the Laboratory of Flotation Reagents and Beneficiation
S. M. Narbekova, Research Fellow at the Laboratory of Flotation Reagents and Beneficiation, e-mail: s.narbekova@mail.ru

Analysis of the existing beneficiation processes for oxidized and complex heavy non-ferrous metals ores shows that more than 50% of the metal that goes to tailings is due to the metal being present as metal oxide compounds. The best solution for this problem would be changing the floatability of oxidized minerals through deeper surface sulphidisation during grinding. The authors looked at the possibility of using calcium polysulfide versus sodium sulfide (principal reagent) as a sulphidizer in the flotation of oxidized leadbearing ores. The new sulphidizer was produced with calcium oxide (lime), sulfur, water and heat. The mass ratio of the components is S:CaO:Н₂О = 10:5:85. An ore sample from the Rodnikovoe deposit in Kazakhstan was used in the study. The authors analysed the composition of the primary ore. The results of the phase analysis of the lead minerals indicate that 77.7% of lead is present as galena, 11.5% — as cerussite and 3.5% — as anglesite. The results of the dispersion analysis show that commercial lead minerals are evenly found in the 0–71 μm grade. A flotation process is proposed which includes ore grinding, rougher flotation, scavenger flotation and two recleaner flotation stages for lead concentrate. Optimum ore fineness and optimum flow rates for the principal and new sulphidizers were identified. It is shown that, compared with the basic process, the application of calcium polysulfide as a sulphidizer helps improve the quality of the lead concentrate and raise the recovery. Thus, the concentration and the froth recovery of lead increased by 8.5–9.0%; the cerussite recovery — by 5.0–5.5%. The optimum flow rate for the sulphidizer remained the same. Hence, calcium polysulfide can substitute the conventional sulphidizer in the flotation of oxidized ores.

1. Kalinin Yu. O. Oxidized lead ores sulphidized with sodium polysulfides (Case study of the Dovatka deposit): PhD dissertation. Chita, 2005. 152 p.
2. Abramov A. A. Processing and beneficiation of non-ferrous metals ores. Vol. 3. Moscow : MSMU, 2005. pp. 169–171.
3. Chanturiya V. A., Trofimova E. P. Processing of oxidized ores. Moscow : Nauka, 1985. 227 p.
4. Antropova I. G., Dambaeva A. Yu., Danzheeva T. Zh. Sulfidizing steam roasting application in oxidized plumbiferous ores processing circuits. Obogashchenie Rud. 2016. No. 6. pp. 3–8. DOI: 10.17580/or.2016.06.01
5. Oskembekov I. M., Bekturganov N. S., Katkeeva G. L., Burkitseterkyzy G., Gizatullina D. R. Application of sulphidisation in the processing of oxidized copper ores. Kompleksnoe ispolzovanie mineralnogo syrya. 2017. No. 1. pp. 18–14.
6. Bekturganov N. S., Katkeeva G. L., Oskembekov I. M., Akubaeva M. A. Sulfidization application during the processing of oxidized copper ores of Udokan deposit. Tsvetnye Metally. 2016. No. 9. pp. 22–27. DOI: 10.17580/tsm.2016.09.02
7. Bekturganov N., Katkeyeva G., Oskembekova Zh., Oskembekov I., Akubayeva M. Physical-chemical regularities of calcium polysulfides synthesis. 16th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference SGEM 2016. Book 1, Vol. II. 2016. pp. 1143–1149.
8. Yin W., Xue J., Li D., Sun Q., Huang Sh. Flotation of heavily oxidized pyrite in the presence of fine digenite particles. Minerals Engineering. 2018. Vol. 115. pp. 142–149.
9. Cao Q., Cheng J., Feng Q., Wen Sh., Luo B. Surface cleaning and oxidative effects of ultrasonication on the flotation of oxidized pyrite. Powder Technology. 2017. Vol. 311. pp. 390–397.
10. Cao Z., Chen X., Peng Y. The role of sodium sulfide in the flotation of pyrite depressed in chalcopyrite flotation. Minerals Engineering. 2018. Vol. 119. pp. 93–98.
11. Yang K., Zhang L., Zhu X., Peng J., Zhu F. Role of manganese dioxide in the recovery of oxide–sulphide zinc ore. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2018. Vol. 343. pp. 315–323.
12. Corin K. C., Kalichini M., O’Connor C. T., Simukanga S. The recovery of oxide copper minerals from a complex copper ore by sulphidisation. Minerals Engineering. 2017. Vol. 102. pp. 15–17.
13. Feng Q. C., Wen S. M., Zhao W. J., Wang Y. J., Cui C. F. Contribution of chloride ions to the sulfidization flotation of cerussite. Minerals Engineering. 2015. Vol. 83. pp. 128–135.
14. Tusupbaev N. K., Mukhanova A. A., Sycheva E. S., Semushkina L. V., Turysbekov D. K. Developing a technique to produce calcium polysulfide as a sulphidizer and looking at the possibility of using it in the flotation of oxidized ores. Vestnik KazNAEN. 2016. No. 1. pp. 50–55.
15. Tussupbayev T. K., Mukhanova A. A., Narbekova S. M., Semushkina L. V., Turysbekov D. K. Application of polysulphide of calcium as sulfidizing agent at flotation of the oxidized lead-bearing ores. Complex Use of Mineral Resources. 2016. No. 4. pp. 12–16.