Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1
Department of Mining Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran, Tehran
2
Faculty of Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Mining Engineering,, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnique)
Abstract
In this study, samples of cut cores from exploratory drilling were used to prepare a representative sample from the Islamabad area located in Tarom, then identification studies were conducted. Based on petrographic and mineralographic studies, the main minerals in the sample include pyrite, chalcopyrite, tennantite, and tetrahedrite. Based on XRD analysis, the sample mainly consists of the minerals quartz, dolomite, albite, muscovite-illite, calcite, potassium feldspar, kaolinite, and pyrite. AAS analysis results indicated that the copper and gold grades are 0.3% and 368 ppb, respectively. In scanning electron microscope studies, no free gold was observed; instead, gold is primarily present as a replacement in the lattice of the minerals galena, chalcopyrite, and pyrite. Based on liberation studies, the liberation degree of chalcopyrite at a particle size of d80 = 63µ is approximately 97.03%. For chalcopyrite flotation, effective parameters such as pH, collector concentration, type and concentration of frother, and concentration of depressant were examined. The results showed that under optimal conditions, pH 8.8, collector concentration of 150 g/t, a mixture of sodium isopropyl xanthate and potassium amyl xanthate in equal weight ratio (50%), a frother concentration of 40 g/t using a mixture of polypropylene glycol and methyl isobutyl carbinol in equal weight ratio (50%), and a depressant concentration of 60 g/t of sodium silicate, the copper grade and recovery were 12.2% and 82%, respectively. With a re-cleaner step on the obtained concentrate, a concentrate with a grade and copper recovery of 18.48% and 80.05% was obtained, respectively.
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