Optical spectrum based measurement of flotation slurry contents

Monitoring and control of a flotation circuit is mainly based on the information gained by assaying the process slurry lines. In flotation plants, usually an X-ray fluorescence analyzer is used to obtain the on-line assays. This article introduces the visual and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopic analysis of the process slurries as a supplementary method which complements the on-line assay information available from an X-ray fluorescence analyzer. It is shown that the spectral information can be used to accurately predict the element contents in the slurry in between successive XRF analyses. Since the spectral measurements can be taken with high frequency as opposed to the sparse X-ray fluorescence analysis, a practically continuous on-line estimate of the slurry contents is reached. These estimates can be used in the plant control to improve the overall performance of the circuits and to yield also economical savings. Additionally, the frequent monitoring of the grades can provide means to eliminate rapid disturbances in the circuits, thus improving the stability of the process.     

Composition and Useful Properties of Tailings of Marine Manganese Nodules and Crusts

Marine manganese nodules and crusts, when processed, yield tailings which may be utilized for environmental and economic benefit. The key to the reasonable and effective utilization of these tailings lies in making a systematic appraisal of their composition and properties. This article gives an introduction to the investigation of manganese tailings properties. The tailings have a high iron and/or manganese content, high surface area, high porosity, and fine grain size. Some tailings have a high rare earth element content which is valuable. They may also have high SO₃, arsenic, and uranium contents which are harmful. Depending on the process used to produce the tailings, there will likely be some differences in chemical composition, mineral assemblages, surface area and adsorption capability, pore diameter and volume, density and pH. In assigning potentially beneficial applications for these tailings, these differences should be taken into account to optimize utilization.     

某矿山天然放射性核素的调查

对某矿山工作场所和生活区分别进行了样品采集,并使用ORTEC公司生产的16000道HPGeγ能谱仪进行了测量。结果表明,该矿山工作场所天然放射性核素的比活度大多高于生活区,其中危害最大的为尾矿坝;某些生活区天然放射性核素的比活度比对照点和国家均值要高,但多数都在国家均值范围内,最高值出现在3号生活区的农田土样中,其天然放射性核素的比活度分别为：α（226^Ra）——750．4Bq/kg、α（232^Th）——91．5Bq/kg、α（40^K）——1202Bq/kg。     

Exploiting the dual functions of polymer depressants in fine particle flotation

Fine hydrophilic particles are known to be entrained with water in flotation of many ores. Flocculation of the hydrophilic particles by polymer depressants could potentially reduce the mechanical entrainment of these particles. This paper reports testwork completed on fine particles of several solids, iron oxide, hydroxyapatite and sphalerite, as well as on a relatively coarse quartz sample (− 75 + 38 μm). Dodecylamine was used as a collector for quartz, and several dispersants and polymer depressants, including sodium silicate, sodium metaphosphate, zinc sulfate, cornstarch, corn dextrin and carboxymethyl celluloses (with molecular weights of both 700,000 and 80,000) were used as flotation modifiers. The major part of the testwork involved flotation tests in a 200 mL flotation column. It was observed that flocculation of the fine hydrophilic particles significantly reduced their mechanical entrainment, while dispersion severely aggravated it. Thus, in the flotation separation of synthetic mixtures of the − 75 + 38 μm quartz and fine (reagent grade) iron oxide or hydroxyapatite, polymer depressants that caused flocculation performed better than those that did not cause flocculation.     

Environmental impact of the former Pb–Zn mining and smelting in East Belgium

In the mining district of Plombières-La Calamine (East Belgium), extensive Pb–Zn mining activities resulted in an important contamination of overbank sediments along the Geul river. Moreover, a huge amount of heavy metals is stored in a dredged mine pond tailing, which is located along the river. In the dredged mine pond tailing sediments, Pb–Zn minerals control the solubility of Zn, Pb and Cd. Although Pb, Zn and Cd display a lower solubility in overbank sediments compared to the mine tailing pond sediments, elevated concentrations of Pb, Zn and Cd are still found in the porewater of the overbank sediments. The considerable ‘actual’ and ‘potential’ mobility of Zn, Pb and Cd indicates that the mine pond tailing sediments and the overbank sediments downstream from the mine pond tailing represent a considerable threat for the environment. Besides the chemical remobilisation of metals from the sediments, the erosion of overbank sediments and the reworking of riverbed sediments act as a secondary source of pollution.     

Mobility of heavy metals from tailings to stream waters in local zinc smelting activities contaminated site

It has been found that stream waters were severely contaminated with wastes from a long-time smelting factory in Hezhang, Guizhou, China. The main sources of contamination are the smelting wastes stored in the open air and abandoned in the vicinity of stream. A method of lead isotope was adopted in order to identify relations between tailings and water contamination. Representative samples of tailings and stream sediments were collected. Mineralogical characterizations were conducted using XRD and TEM/SEM, while acid digestion was carried out for determining metal contents. BCR sequential leaching tests were performed in order to assess metal mobility. The tremendous ‘actual＇ and ‘potential＇ mobility of heavy metals indicates that the smelting waste and stream sediments present a considerable threat to the environment. Besides the chemical remobilization of heavy metals from the sediments and the reworking of riverbed sediments act as a secondary source of pollution. Also groundwater and stream water were sampled in specific locations and were measured.     

Modified column flotation of adsorbing iron hydroxide colloidal precipitates

A promising technique for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater streams involved firstly the ions adsorption on a colloidal precipitate (carrier) and then the separation of the loaded flocs (coagula) by a modified column flotation. Here, the effluent feed and the carrier (ferric hydroxide) enter smoothly by the top of the column through a special diffuser, in counter current with rising bubbles (100–600 μm diameter) generated by using recycled water, surfactant and air suction through a venturi. High separation values of the column flotation of the carrier precipitates were achieved, despite the high superficial flow rate and the high Fe^+ 3 concentration utilized (> 60 mg L^− 1 Fe). No rupture of colloidal carrier aggregates was observed and a low split was ensured by monitoring the concentrate (floated product) flow rate. Results indicated that best separation was attained by controlling the medium pH (for best heavy metal ion adsorption onto the carrier), followed by sodium oleate, used as “collector” and optimizing operating parameters (conditioning, flow rates, etc.). The column throughput reached 43 m h^− 1 (m³ m^− 2 h^− 1), which is about 4 times the normal capacity of DAF-dissolved air flotation unit, the most used floater in wastewater treatment. Various metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, etc.) and molybdate ions present in synthetic and real effluent were successfully removed based on this colloidal adsorbing flotation principle. The process was also applied in a pilot scale to treat an industrial electroplating wastewater. Most of toxic metals (Cu, Ni and Zn) were reduced from initial concentrations of about of 2 to 10 mg L^− 1, to below 0.5 to 1.0 mg L^− 1, meeting local municipal discharge limits (but Cd ions). It is believed that flotation separation using medium-sized bubbles has great potential as a clean water and wastewater treatment technology.     

Permeability of Hydraulic Fills and Barricade Bricks

Permeability is one of the most important parameters in the design of hydraulic backfilling of mine stopes. A simple and reproducible method was developed for preparing reconstituted hydraulic fill sample in the laboratory, that is representative of the hydraulic fill in the mine stope, replicating the slurry sedimentation process taking place in the mine. Constant head and falling head permeability tests were carried out on the samples, giving consistent results. A brick permeameter was developed to study the flow characteristics of the porous barricade bricks under one-dimensional flow, simulating the flow conditions in the mine. Three different methods were used to determine the permeability of the brick and the results showed very good agreement. This is the first rational attempt to measure the permeability of the porous barricade bricks that are used to close the horizontal access drives in the mines, thus retaining the hydraulic fill. The measurements show that the permeability of the barricade brick is about two to three orders of magnitude greater than that of the hydraulic fill.     

Flotation of oxidized minerals of copper using a new synthetic chelating reagent as collector

A new synthetic reagent containing a mixed aliphatic-aromatic structure, with a hydrocarbon chain and an aminothiophenol chelating group, has proven to be an effective collector for the flotation of chrysocolla minerals. The flotation is optimum in the narrow pH range of 5.5 to 6, falls sharply at pH 5, and is moderate in the pH range 7 to 11. Infrared spectra indicate that copper aminothiophenolate chelates are formed on the surface of the chrysocolla under the conditions of maximum flotation.