A laboratory study of the influence of sodium sulphide and oxygen on the collectorless flotation of chalcopyrite

The flotability of chalcopyrite in the absence of conventional collectors and its dependence on the oxidation-reduction state of the system has been determined in batch flotation tests on high-grade mineral both alone and mixed with quartz. It has been concluded that chalcopyrite is not floatable in reducing conditions either in the presence or absence of sodium sulphide but becomes floatable when oxygen is made available. No evidence was found to suggest that chalcopyrite ground in the near absence of oxygen is highly floatable.