Characterization of Flotation Tailings of Iron Concentrate Lines 5, 6, and 7 of Golgohar and Feasibility of Copper and Iron Pre-processing from it

Document Type : Research - Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D, Head of Mineral Processing Research, Golgohar Sirjan Mine Research and Technology Unit, Sirjan, kerman, Iran

2 Ph.D Student, Dept. of Industrial Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Kish, Iran

3 M.Sc, Researcher of KSM-RASHA, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

Abstract

Today, the reprocessing of mineral processing plant tailings is important from an economic point of view (as a secondary source of valuable elements) as well as environmental issues. The purpose of this research is to characterize the flotation tailings of iron concentrate lines 5, 6, and 7 in Golgohar and their pre-processing in order to maximally separate copper and iron minerals and increase their grade. Therefore, after preparing representative samples from flotation tailings, instrumental chemical analysis, particle size analysis, and microscopic studies were performed on them. Then, using magnetic separation and classification methods, iron and copper separation and enrichment were done. The characterization results of the tailings showed that its main minerals are pyrite, magnetite, and talc, and the iron and copper grades are about 30% and 0.11%, respectively. The results of the pre-processing tests showed that by performing magnetic separation at a field intensity of 2000 Gauss, the grade of iron in concentrate and copper in the tailings increased to 47.8 and 0.18%, respectively. By adding a classification step before magnetic separation and discarding the coarse-grained part of the sample and then performing magnetic separation on the fine-grained part (-38 microns) in the field intensity of 2000 Gauss, the grade of iron and copper in the concentrate and tailings, respectively, is 53.6 and improved by 0.21 percent. Therefore, pre-processing can return the iron in the flotation tailings as an intermediate product to the iron concentrate production circuit and prevent its wastage. On the other hand, by discarding more than half of the flotation tailings, increasing the copper grade, and reducing iron in the rest, this operation created many technical and economic benefits for the copper extraction process in the next stages. Classification and magnetic separation methods are operationally simple and cost-effective and can be implemented in lines 5, 6, and 7 of Golgohar with minimal changes and costs.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Blasenbauer, D., Bogush, A., Carvalho, M., Cleall, P., Cormio, C., Guglietta, D., Fellner, J., Alonso Fernández, M., Heuss-Aßbichler, S., Huber, F., Kral, U., Kriipsalu, M., Johansson, J., Laner, D., Lederer, J., Lemière, B., Liu, G., Mao, R., Mueller, S., and Žibret, G. (2020). “Knowledge base to facilitate Anthropogenic Resource Assessment”. Deliverable of COST Action Mining the European Anthroposphere. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3739164.
  2. Shen, L., Muduli, K., and Barve, A. (2013). “Developing a sustainable development framework in the context of mining industries: AHP approach”. Resources Policy, 46: 15-26.
  3. Prior, T., Giurco, D., Mudd, G., Mason, L., and Behrisch, J. (2011). “Resource depletion, peak minerals and the implications for sustainable resource management”. Global Environmental Change, 22: 577-587.
  4. Suppes, R., and Heuss-Aßbichler, S. (2021). “Resource potential of mine wastes: A conventional and sustainable perspective on a case study tailings mining project”. Journal of Cleaner Production, 297: 126446.
  5. Lottermoser, B. G. (2010). “Mine Wastes: Characterization, Treatment and Environmental Impacts”. Third Edition, Springer, Berlin, pp. 400. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-12419-8.
  6. احمدی عامله، ع.، خضری، م.، عبداله‌زاده، ع.، عسکری، م.؛ 1393؛ "بازیابی مس، نیکل و کبالت از باطله‌های سولفیدی کارخانه بازیابی هماتیت گل‌گهر سیرجان به روش فلوتاسیون". هفتمین همایش ملی و نمایشگاه تخصصی مهندسی محیط زیست.
  7. Brest, K. K., Henock, M. M., Guellord, N., Kimpiab, M., and Kapiamba, K. F. (2021). “Statistical investigation of flotation parameters for copper recovery from sulfide flotation tailings”. Results in Engineering, 9: 100207.
  8. Yang, Z., Yang, Z., Yang, S., Liu, Z., Liu, Z., Liu, Y., Drewniak, L., Jiang, C., Li, Q., Li, W., and Yin, H. (2022). “Life cycle assessment and cost analysis for copper hydrometallurgy industry in China”. Journal of Environmental Management, 309: 114689.
  9. Xie, Y., Xu, Y., Yan, L., and Yang, R. (2005). “Recovery of nickel, copper and cobalt from low-grade Ni–Cu sulfide tailings”. Hydrometallurgy, 80(1): 54-58.
  10. Zhang, R., Hedrich, S., Römer, F., Goldmann, D., and Schippers, A. (2020). “Bioleaching of cobalt from Cu/Co-rich sulfidic mine tailings from the polymetallic Rammelsberg mine, Germany”. Hydrometallurgy, 197: 105443.
  11. Drobe, M., Haubrich, F., Gajardo, M., and Marbler, H. (2021). “Processing Tests, Adjusted Cost Models and the Economies of Reprocessing Copper Mine Tailings in Chile”. Metals, 11(1): 103.
  12. خسروی، ر.، فرامرزپور، ا.، ساری خانی، م.، غریبی، خ.؛ 1398؛ "امکان‌سنجی بازفرآوری آهن از باطله‌های کارخانه فرآوری چغارت در مقیاس آزمایشگاهی". چهارمین کنفرانس بین المللی پژوهش‌های کاربردی در علوم و مهندسی.
  13. بهرامی، ع.، ایمانی، ف.، کاظمی، ف.، میرمحمدی، م.، رفیعی، م.؛ 2023؛ "بازیافت آهن از باطله‌های کارخانه سنگ آهن بالستان". نشریه مهندسی منابع معدنی، دوره هشتم، شماره 4، ص 135-119.
  14. Beattie, D. A., Huynh, L., Kaggwa, G. B., and Ralston, J. (2006). “Influence of adsorbed polysaccharides and polyacrylamides on talc flotation”. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 78(4): 238-249.
  15. Beattie, D. A., Huynh, L., Kaggwa, G. B. N., and Ralston, J. (2006). “The effect of polysaccharides and polyacrylamides on the depression of talc and the flotation of sulphide minerals”. Minerals Engineering, 19(6): 598-608.
  16. Leung, A., Wiltshire, J., Blencowe, A., Fu, Q., Solomon, D. H., and Qiao, G. G. (2011). “The effect of acrylamide-co-vinylpyrrolidinone copolymer on the depression of talc in mixed nickel mineral flotation”. Minerals Engineering, 24(5): 449-454.
  17. Jin, S., Shi, Q., Feng, Q., Zhang, G., and Chang, Z. (2018). “The role of calcium and carbonate ions in the separation of pyrite and talc”. Minerals Engineering, 119: 205-211.
  18. Deng, W., Xu, L., Tian, J., Hu, Y., and Han, Y. (2017). “Flotation and Adsorption of a New Polysaccharide Depressant on Pyrite and Talc in the Presence of a Pre-Adsorbed Xanthate Collector”. Minerals, 7: 40.
  19. خوشدست، ح.، زیدآبادی‌نژاد، ن.؛ 1398؛ "بررسی کیفی و کمی باطله خطوط فرآوری مجتمع سنگ آهن گهرزمین (سیرجان) با استفاده از روش‌های آزمایشگاهی و پایش آماری". چهارمین کنفرانس بین المللی نوآوری و تحقیق در علوم مهندسی.

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 30 April 2024
  • Revise Date: 29 September 2024
  • Accept Date: 12 June 2024

Share

How to cite

Statistics