Influence of the Mixture of Xanthates collectors on the Flottation of Difficult Copper Ici de Oré to Float-Case of Minerals Fill 18 Deposit Shangulowe

This paper presents the results of a study conducted to highlight the influence of the mixture of xanthate collectors on the flotation of copper oxide ores. The Shangolowe deposit sample assayed 3.22% copper and 0.08% cobalt, and by means of mineralogy and chemical analysis the gangue appears dolomitic. Test optimization ratio and the main sulfudizing collector were performed, testing after which the dosage rates of 4000g NaSH / dT ore and 400g KAX /dT ore were used as a reference for further testing. Xanthate collectors namely: KAX, KEX, SIBX and SNPX were tested alone and their specific behaviors were reported. The study showed that KAX increase the recovery and three other collectors improved concentrates quality. They were then taken two to two mixed in the proportions of 25% -75% 50% -50% 75% -25%. It appears from these tests that the mix-KAX/SIBX taken in ratios of 75 and 25%, stood out all tests because it offered good selectivity and improved metallurgical performance. Comparative testing of cleaning under standard conditions and the best test mixture, also confirmed an improvement in the selectivity of 7 points compared to the usual KAX. A comparison of the collector’s costs, helped highlight a desired gain per ton contained copper with the use of mixed collectors which was about 13% compared to the use of KAX alone. Operating conditions and flotation scheme on the test which offered the best metallurgical performance subsequently proposed to the operator, who was consolidating the results obtained previously with cyclic tests in laboratory and pilot plant.