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Model Discrimination in the Flotation of a Porphyry Copper Ore

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Abstract

Numerous flotation models have been proposed in the literature. Thirteen of these have been applied to batch flotation data and evaluated with respect to one another using statistical techniques.

Flotation tests were carried out on samples of a US porphyry copper ore (Pinto Valley, AZ). The ore was tested using various collector and frother systems to produce different time-recovery profiles. These were used to calculate flotation rate and ultimate recovery parameters for each model. The models were then evaluated statistically to determine the overall fit of the calculated to the observed data and to test the range of significance of the parameters in each model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Pennsylvania State University, USA

    E. C. Dowling (member SME, graduate student) & F. F. Aplan (member SME, professor)

  2. Dow Chemical Co., USA

    R. R. Klimpel (member SME, scientist)

Authors
  1. E. C. Dowling
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  2. R. R. Klimpel
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  3. F. F. Aplan
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Additional information

SME preprint 84-144, SME-AIME Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, March 1984. MMP paper 84-603. Manuscript February 1984. Discussion of this paper must be submitted, in duplicate, prior to July 31, 1985.

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Dowling, E.C., Klimpel, R.R. & Aplan, F.F. Model Discrimination in the Flotation of a Porphyry Copper Ore. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 2, 87–101 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402602

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