Flotation of a Copper-Lead Sulfide-Oxide Ore：Using a Combined Depressant for Galena and an Effective Activator D2 for Copper Oxide Minerals

The properties of a Cu-Pb oxide ore are investigated by XRD and SEM. Results show that the ore is characterized by chalcocite, galena, azurite and cerusite. Copper and lead phases analysis show that the oxidation rates of copper and lead are up to 70% and 72%, respectively. In order to get a good flotation performance for the difficult-to-treat ore, an efficient flotation technology of bulk flotation of Cu-Pb sulfides，separation of Cu-Pb sulfides, copper and lead oxides flotation has been developed. By applying the combined depressants (sodium thiosulfate + peroxide), activator Disulhydroxybenzen Thiodiazole (developed by Kunming Metallurgy Research Institute) in copper oxide flotation and sodium sulfide in flotation of lead oxide, chalcocite and galena can be separated and the Cu-Pb oxides can be activated. Results in closed circuit test show that when the feed assays 0.59% Cu, 2.40% Pb and 39.87 g/t Ag, marketable copper sulfide and oxide concentrates, lead sulfide and oxide concentrates can be obtained. At the same time, silver got enriched in the concentrates too. This study is expected to give a technical support in utilizing this complex Cu-Pb oxide ores.