ANALYSIS OF EFFECTIVE APPROACHES FOR DEPRESSING MgO-CONTAINING GANGUE MINERALS IN COPPER-NICKEL SULFIDE ORE FLOATATION

Nickel ore resources in China are mostly low-grade copper-nickel sulfide ores with high percentage of MgO-containing silicate gangue minerals.Major copper-nickel mines in China,such as Jinchuan Group Ltd.,have been striving to lower the magnesium content of floatation concentrate.Although lots of researches have been done,the depressing of MgO-containing gangue minerals in copper-nickel sulfide ore floatation is not technically controllable.Related literatures on depressing of MgO-containing gangue minerals have been reviewed.It is suggested that highly effective composite depressant,that is,a complexing agent-depressant combination,should be employed to depress MgO-containing silicate gangue minerals.A complexing agent is used to clean the surfaces of valuable minerals and gangue minerals,which will increase their floatability difference.In the meantime,a selective depressant is applied to depress MgO-containing gangue minerals.This will be the effective approach for depressing MgO-containing silicate minerals in copper-nickel sulfide ore floatation.