Flotation of copper ores

Claim 2

adding lime to the pulp at the end of the acid conditioning treatment in an amount sufficient to raise the pH of the pulp to a pH ranging from about 8.5 to about 10.5 and adding a sulfhydryl anionic collector to condition the pulp under conditions of agitation:

Claim 3

continuing such conditioning with agitation for a period of time ranging from about 3 to about 9 minutes:

Claim 4

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the acid agent is in diluted form as acid agent diluted with water, acidified mill solution, solution from acid treated tailings, solution from acid treated leach dumps or any combination of any of the foregoing with any other or with additional acid agent.

Claim 5

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the acid treatment is carried out in a continuous circuit and the addition of an acid agent is made in a contInuous manner in a predetermined amount per ton of dry solids in the pulp fed to said circuit at at least one point in said circuit.

Claim 6

adding additional lime at the end of the conditioning stage (3) in an amount sufficient to raise the pH of the pulp to a range from about 10.9 to about 11.9 with or without additional sulfhydryl collector and further conditioning with agitation for a period of at least 4 minutes up to about 20 minutes:

Claim 7

adding frother to the pulp under conditions of agitation during or after the conditioning stage (4) and subjecting the pulp to froth flotation in a pH range of from about 10.9 to about 11.9 to produce (a) a flotation concentrate enriched in copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values: and (b) a waste product impoverished in copper values.

Claim 8

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the acid treatment is carried out in a continuous circuit and the addition of acid agent is made in a continuous manner at one or more points in the circuit, the amount of acid agent added at each said point being the amount required to maintain the pH at a control point downstream of the point of addition of acid agent at a predetermined value.

Claim 9

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the acid treatment is carried out in a continuous circuit and the addition of acid agent is made in a continuous manner at at least two points in the circuit, partly in predetermined amount per ton of dry solids in the pulp fed to said circuit and partly in an amount required to maintain the pH at a control point in said circuit at a particular value.

Claim 10

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the acid agent is sulphuric acid.

Claim 11

A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein the acid agent is sulphuric acid, and the predetermined amount per ton of dry solids in the pulp fed to said circuit is from about 2 to about 16 lbs. calculated on the basis of 100 percent sulphuric acid.

Claim 12

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the acid agent is sulphuric acid and said acidic pH range is from about 1.4 to about 5.5.

Claim 13

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ore contains a relatively high amount of acid consuming constituents and during said acid treatment subsequent to the copper values of the ore being conditioned within an acidic pH range during part of said acid treatment, conditioning is continued as the pH is permitted to rise to 7 or slightly higher due to the presence of said acid consuming constituents.

Claim 14

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said alkaline treatment comprises one stage of agitation conditioning at a pH of from about 8.5 to about 10.5 in the presence of a sulfhydryl anionic collector and another stage of agitation conditioning at a pH of from about 10.5 to about 12.0 in the presence of a sulfhydryl anionic collector.

Claim 15

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein a dispersing agent is present in said pulp during at least a final portion of said alkaline treatment.

Claim 16

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein during the acid treatment the pulp density is from about 20 percent to about 55 percent solids, during the alkaline treatment is from about 20 to 55 percent solids, and at flotation the pulp density is from about 20 percent to about 40 percent solids.

Claim 17

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alkaline treatment is carried on in a continuous circuit and the alkaline agent is added at at least one point in said circuit in an amount required to maintain a predetermined pH at a control location downstream of said point.

Claim 18

A process for the flotation recovery of copper values from ores containing copper values in the form of at least one sulphide copper mineral and at least one sulphuric acid soluble copper mineral using a sulfhydryl anionic collector comprising: preparing a pulp of the ore by grinding the ore to flotation feed size in a wet grinding circuit containing at least one stage of wet grinding; subsequently, subjecting the pulp of the ore to acid treatment by conditioning the pulp with addition of an acid agent, the acid agent being selected from the group consisting of sulphuric acid, sulphurous acid and sulphur dioxide, whereby the copper values of the ore are conditioned within an acidic pH range during at least part of said acid treatment for subsequent flotation at an alkaline pH; subsequently subjecting the thus conditioned pulp containing the copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values to alkaline treatment which includes at least one stage of alkaline agitation conditioning in the presence of at least one alkaline ageNt selected from the group consisting of lime, calcium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and combinations of lime or calcium hydroxide with sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate or ammonium hydroxide in the pH range of from about 8.5 to about 12.3 in the presence of a sulfhydryl anionic collector to enable the effective recovery by flotation of copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values; said alkaline conditioning being carried out in the presence or absence of a suitable frother; and subsequently in the presence of a suitable frother subjecting the pulp to froth flotation in a pH range of from about 8.5 to about 12.0 to produce a concentrate of copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values.

Claim 19

The process of claim 15 wherein subsequent to the wet grinding circuit, the density of the pulp is adjusted to a desired density at one or more points prior to and during the process by dilution, thickening, or thickening and dilution to a pulp density within the range of from about 20 to about 55 percent solids.

Claim 20

A process as claimed in claim 16 wherein during the acid treatment the pulp density is from about 20 percent to about 55 percent solids, during the alkaline treatment is from about 20 to 55 percent solids, and at flotation the pulp density is from about 20 percent to about 40 percent solids.

Claim 21

A process as claimed in claim 17 wherein the acid agent is in diluted form as acid agent diluted with water, acidified mill solution, solution from acid treated tailings, solution from acid treated leach dumps or any combination of any of the foregoing with any other or with additional acid agent.

Claim 22

A process as claimed in claim 15 wherein the acid treatment is carried out in a continuous circuit and the addition of an acid agent is made in a continuous manner in a predetermined amount per ton of dry solids in the pulp fed to said circuit at at least one point in said circuit .

Claim 23

A process as claimed in claim 15 wherein the acid treatment is carried out in a continuous circuit and the addition of acid agent is made in a continuous manner at one or more points in the circuit, the amount of acid agent added at each said point being the amount required to maintain the pH at a control point downstream of the point of addition of acid agent at a predetermined value.

Claim 24

A process as claimed in claim 15 wherein the acid treatment is carried out in a continuous circuit and the addition of acid agent is made in a continuous manner at at least two points in the circuit, partly in predetermined amount per ton of dry solids in the pulp fed to said circuit and partly in an amount required to maintain the pH at a control point in said circuit at a particular value.

Claim 25

A process as claimed in claim 15 wherein the alkaline treatment is carried on in a continuous circuit and the alkaline agent is added at at least one point in said circuit in an amount required to maintain a predetermined pH at a control location downstream of said point.

Claim 26

A process for the flotation recovery of copper values from ores containing copper values in the form of at least one sulphide copper mineral and at least one sulphuric acid soluble copper mineral using a sulfhydryl anionic collector comprising:

Claim 27

A process for the recovery of copper values by flotation from ores containing copper values in the form of at least one sulphide copper mineral and at least one sulphuric acid soluble copper mineral using a sulfhydryl anionic collector, said process comprising: subjecting a pulp of the ore to be treated to conditioning in at least one acid conditioning stage wherein an acid agent selected from the group consisting of sulphuric acid, sulphurous acid and sulphur dioxide is added to the pulp for conditioning of the pulp within a pH range of about 1.4 to about 5.5 during at least a portion of such conditioning stage, whereby the copper values are conditioned for subsequent flotation in an alkaline circuit; subsequently subjecting the thus conditioned pulp containing the copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values to alkaline treatment in an alkaline conditioning circuit and adding to the pulp an agitation conditioning with at least one alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of lime, calcium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and combinations of lime or calcium hydroxide with sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate or ammonium hydroxide in at least one alkaline agitation conditioning stage in the pH range of about 8.5 to about 12.3 in the presence of a sulfhydryl anionic collector to enable the effective recovery by flotation of copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values; and subsequently in the presence of a suitable frother subjecting the pulp to froth flotation in the pH range of about 8.5 to about 12.0 to produce a concentrate of copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values.

Claim 28

A process for the flotation recovery of copper values from ores containing copper values in the form of at least one sulphide copper mineral and at least one sulphuric acid soluble copper mineral using a sulfhydryl anionic collector comprising: preparing a pulp of the ore for subsequent flotation of the copper values by grinding the ore to flotation feed size in a wet grinding circuit containing at least one stage of wet grinding: in at least one of the said stages of wet grinding subjecting the pulp of the ore to acid treatment by the addition of an acid agent to said grinding stage, the acid agent being selected from the group consisting of sulphuric acid, sulphurous acid and sulphur dioxide, whereby the copper values of the ore are conditioned within an acidic pH range during at least part of said acid treatment for subsequent flotation at an alkaline pH; subsequently subjecting the thus conditioned pulp containing the copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values to alkaline treatment which includes at least one stage of alkaline agitation conditioning in the presence of at least one alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of lime, calcium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and combinations of lime or calcim hydroxide with sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate or ammonium hydroxide in the pH range of from about 8.5 to about 12.3 in the presence of a sulfhydryl anionic collector to enable the effective recovery by flotation of copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values; said alkaline conditioning being carried out in the presence or absence of a suitable frother; and subsequently in the presence of a suitable frother subjecting the pulp to froth flotation in a pH range of from about 8.5 to about 12.0 to produce a concentrate of copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values.

Claim 29

A process as claimed in claim 25 wherein alkaline agent is added prior to the adjusting of the pulp density for subsequent conditioning.

Claim 30

A process as claimed in claim 25 wherein the acid agent is in diluted form as acid agent diluted with water, acidified mill solution, solution from acid treated tailings, solution from acid treated leach dumps or any combination of any of the foregoing with any other or with additional acid agent.

Claim 31

The process of claim 25 wherein subsequent to the wet grinding circuit, the density of the pulp is adjusted to a desired density at one or more points during the process by dilution, thickening, or thickening and dilution to a pulp density within the range of from about 20 to about 55 percent solids.

Claim 32

A process as claimed in claim 26 wherein the adjusting of the pulp density for subsequent conditioning includes addition of alkaline agent.

Claim 33

A process as claimed in claim 28 wherein during the acid treatment the pulp density is from about 15 percent to about 65 percent solids, during the alkaline treatment is from about 20 to 55 percent solids, and at flotation the pulp density is from about 20 percent to about 40 percent solids.

Claim 34

A process for the flotation recovery of copper values from ores containing copper values in the form of at least one sulphide copper mineral and at least one sulphuric acid soluble copper mineral using a sulfhydryl anionic collector comprising: preparing a pulp of the ore for subsequent flotation of the copper values by grinding the ore to flotation feed size in a wet grinding circuit containing at least one stage of wet grinding; in at least one of the said stages of wet grinding subjecting the pulp of the ore to acid treatment by the addition of an acid agent to said grinding stage; and continuing said acid treatment in at least one conditioning state subsequent to the grinding circuit with or without further addition of acid agent, the acid agent being selected from the group consisting of sulphuric acid, sulphurous acid and sulphur dioxide, whereby the copper values of the ore are conditioned within an acidic pH range during at least part of said acid treatment for subsequent flotation at an alkaline pH; subsequently subjecting the thus conditioned pulp containing the copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values to alkaline treatment which includes at least one stage of alkaline agitation conditioning in the presence of at least one alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of lime, calcium hyroxide, sodium carbonate and combinations of lime or calcium hydroxide with sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate or ammonium hydroxide, in the pH range of from about 8.5 to about 12.3 in the presence of a sulfhydryl anionic collector to enable the effective recovery by flotation of copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values, said alkaline conditioning being carried out in the presence or absence of a suitable frother; and subsequently in the presence of a suitable frother subjecting the pulp to froth flotation in a pH range of from about 8.5 to about 12.0 to produce a concentrate of copper sulphide values and sulphuric acid soluble copper values.

Claim 35

The process of claim 31 wherein subsequent to the wet grinding circuit, the density of the pulp is adjusted to a desired density at one or more points during the process by dilution, thickening, or thickening and dilution to a pulp density within the range of from about 20 to about 55 percent solids.

Claim 36

A process as claimed in claim 32 wherein during the acid treatment the pulp density is from about 15 percent to about 65 percent solids, during the alkaline treatment is from about 20 to 55 percent solids, and at flotation the pulp density is from about 20 percent to about 40 percent solids.

Claim 37

A process as claimed in claim 32 wherein the acid agent is in diluted form as acid agent diluted with water, acidified mill solution, solution from acid treated tailings, solution from acid treated leach dumps or any combination of any of the foregoing with any other or with additional acid agent.

Claim 38

A process for the recovery of copper values from ores containing copper sulphide minerals together with at least one of the sulphuric acid soluble copper minerals in at least one stage of conditioning wherein the pH has been lowered to within the range of from about 1.8 to about 6.0 by the addition of sulphuric acid or sulphur dioxide, subsequently agitation conditioning the resulting thus conditioned pulp in at least one alkaline stage of conditioning in the presence of a sulfhydryl anionic collector wherein the pH is in the range of from about 7.7 to about 12.3 in the presence or absence of a suitable frother and then subjecting the resulting thus conditioned pulp containing both the copper sulphide values and the sulphuric acid soluble copper mineral values to froth flotation in the presence of a suitable frother at a pH in excess of 7.7 but less than 12 to produce a concentrate of said copper values.

Claim 39

A process for the recovery of copper values from ores containing copper sulphide minerals together with at least one of the sulphuric acid soluble copper minerals using a sulfhydryl anionic collector as the collecting agent said process comprising: preparing a suitable pulp of such ore wherein the liquid contains sulphuric acid soluble copper in solution; conditioning said pulp in at least one stage of conditioning wherein the pH is within the range of about 1.8 to about 6.0; subsequently agitation conditioning the resulting thus conditioned pulp containing both the copper sulphide values and the sulphuric acid soluble copper mineral values in at least one alkaline stage of conditioning in the presence of a sulfhydryl anionic collector wherein the pH is in the range of about 9.5 to about 12.3 in the presence or absence of a suitable frother and then subjecting the thus conditioned pulp to froth flotation in the presence or absence of a suitable frother at a pH in excess of 9.5 but less than 12 to produce a concentrate of said copper values and containing copper precipitated from said liquid.