Sponsors
|
Research Providers
Professor Fernando Concha |
| Value : CLP $360,000,000.00 | Duration : 3 years |
| Commenced : 24 Apr 2009 | AMIRA : Juan Daniel Silva |
| Small operations in Chile have conducted flotation in sea water in the past, although much of the flotation know-how developed there has been lost. Gold and nickel operations in Western Australia are known to use highly saline waters and the Batu Hijau gold mine of Newmont in Indonesia uses seawater for flotation. Flotation of sulphide copper ores and their by-products (Mo, Au, Ag) in water with high concentration of electrolytes show problems in rougher and cleaner stages. For example, Cu, Mo and Au yield similar recovery levels in rougher circuits while concentrate grade decreases because pyrite depression is affected by the buffer effect of the electrolyte solution. In cleaner circuits pyrite depression using lime to adjust pH reduces recovery of Mo and Au. | |
