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New influence factor inducing difficulty in selective flotation separation of Cu-Zn mixed sulfide minerals

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Abstract

Selective flotation separation of Cu-Zn mixed sulfides has been proven to be difficult. Thus far, researchers have found no satisfactory way to separate Cu-Zn mixed sulfides by selective flotation, mainly because of the complex surface and interface interaction mechanisms in the flotation solution. Undesired activation occurs between copper ions and the sphalerite surfaces. In addition to recycled water and mineral dissolution, ancient fluids in the minerals are observed to be a new source of metal ions. In this study, significant amounts of ancient fluids were found to exist in Cu-Zn sulfide and gangue minerals, mostly as gas-liquid fluid inclusions. The concentration of copper ions released from the ancient fluids reached 1.02 × 10−6 mol/L, whereas, in the cases of sphalerite and quartz, this concentration was 0.62 × 10−6 mol/L and 0.44 × 10−6 mol/L, respectively. As a result, the ancient fluid is a significant source of copper ions compared to mineral dissolution under the same experimental conditions, which promotes the unwanted activation of sphalerite. Therefore, the ancient fluid is considered to be a new factor that affects the selective flotation separation of Cu-Zn mixed sulfide ores.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China

    Jiu-shuai Deng, Ying-bo Mao, Shu-ming Wen, Jian Liu, Yong-jun Xian & Qi-cheng Feng

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  1. Jiu-shuai Deng
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  2. Ying-bo Mao
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  3. Shu-ming Wen
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  4. Jian Liu
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  5. Yong-jun Xian
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  6. Qi-cheng Feng
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Correspondence to Shu-ming Wen.

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Deng, Js., Mao, Yb., Wen, Sm. et al. New influence factor inducing difficulty in selective flotation separation of Cu-Zn mixed sulfide minerals. Int J Miner Metall Mater 22, 111–115 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1050-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1050-x

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