Flotation of copper-nickel sulfide ores

Claim 2

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersing agent is a phosphate.

Claim 3

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispersing agent is a lignin compound.

Claim 4

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the conditioning in the presence of an alkaline agent takes place at least partially during wet comminution of the ore.

Claim 5

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the ore is a talcose ore that contains a nickel sulfide mineral and the alkaline agent is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates, ammonium hydroxide, mixtures of these compounds, and mixtures comprising at least one of the compounds and at least one hydroxide selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and calcium hydroxides or lime.

Claim 6

A process as defined in claim 6 wherein the dispersing agent is sodium silicate.

Claim 7

A process as defined in claim 6 wherein the dispersing agent is a phosphate.

Claim 8

A process for the flotation recovery of copper and nickel sulphide minerals from ore containing both such minerals by a process in which at least two conditioning steps precede flotation, said processing consisting essentially of (a) conditioning a pulp of the ore in the presence of at least one alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates, ammonium hydroxide, mixtures of these compounds, and mixtures comprising at least one of the compounds and at least one hydroxide selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and calcium hydroxides; and then, (b) in the presence of a member of the xanthate family of flotation reagents and a sufficient amount of dispersing agent to maintain the host rock minerals effectively dispersed, further conditioning the said pulp and subjecting same to froth flotation.

Claim 9

A process as defined in claim 9, in which the first conditioning step is at least partially carried out during one or more wet grinding stages.

Claim 10

A process as defined in claim 9, in which the entire first conditioning step is carRied out subsequently to one or more wet grinding stages.

Claim 11

A process as defined in claim 9, in which the alkaline agent is sodium carbonate.

Claim 12

A process as defined in claim 9, in which the alkaline agent is ammonium hydroxide.

Claim 13

A process as defined in claim 9, in which the alkaline agents are sodium carbonate and ammonium hydroxide.

Claim 14

A process as defined in claim 9, in which the alkaline agents are sodium carbonate, ammonium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide or lime.

Claim 15

A process as defined in claim 9, in which the alkaline agents are sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide.

Claim 16

A process as defined in claim 9, in which the alkaline agents are sodium carbonate and calcium hydroxide.

Claim 17

A process as defined in claim 9, in which copper sulphate is added as an activating agent during said first conditioning step.

Claim 18

A process as defined in claim 9, in which a trimethyl nonyl ether of polyethylene glycol is added as a wetting agent during said first conditioning step.

Claim 19

A process as defined in claim 9, in which the xanthate reagent employed is sodium amyl xanthate.

Claim 20

A process as defined in claim 9, in which the xanthate reagent employed is potassium amyl xanthate.

Claim 21

A process for the flotation recovery of copper and nickel sulphide minerals from ores containing both such minerals by a process in which at least two conditioning steps precede flotation, said process consisting essentially of (a) a first conditioning step wherein the ore, together with such activating agents and wetting agents as are to be used, is conditioned in the presence of at least one alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates, ammonium hydroxide, mixtures of these two compounds, and mixtures comprising at least one of these compounds and at least one hydroxide selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and calcium hydroxides, in an amount calculated to bring the pH of the resulting pulp up to a point within the optimum range of flotation of the desired mineral, for a period of time sufficient to activate said mineral; then (b) a second conditioning step wherein the pulp resulting from the first step is conditioned in the presence of a selected member of the family of xanthate flotation reagents for a period of time determined by experiment to produce maximum activation of said minerals; then (c) a third conditioning step wherein the pulp resulting from the second step is conditioned in the presence of a dispersing agent in an amount and for a time, predetermined by experiment, to be sufficient to effectively disperse the host rock minerals; and then (d) subjecting the resulting pulp to froth flotation.

Claim 22

A process as defined in claim 22, in which the second conditioning step is carried out for a period of from 10 to about 30 minutes.

Claim 23

A process as defined in claim 22, in which the third conditioning step is carried out for a period of less than 10 minutes.

Claim 24

A process as defined in claim 22, in which the second conditioning step is carried out for a period of from about 10 to about 30 minutes, and in which the third conditioning step is carried out for a period of less than 10 minutes.

Claim 25

A process as defined in claim 22, in which the dispersing agent is added as dispersant during both the first and third conditioning steps, the amount added in the first step being less than that added in the third step.

Claim 26

A process according to claim 22, wherein the order of the second and third conditioning steps is reversed and the total time of the third conditioning step is at least 5 minutes.