Flotation of Seafloor Massive Sulfide Ores: Combination of Surface Cleaning and Deactivation of Lead-Activated Sphalerite to Improve the Separation Efficiency of Chalcopyrite and Sphalerite

The purpose of this study is to propose the flotation procedure seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) ores separate chalcopyrite and galena as froth sphalerite, pyrite, other gangue minerals tailings, which currently facing difficulties due presence water-soluble compounds. obtained SMS ore sample contains CuFeS2, ZnS, FeS2, SiO2, BaSO4 in addition PbS PbSO4 Pb minerals. Soluble compounds releasing Pb, Zn2+, Pb2+, Fe2+/3+ are also contained. When anglesite co-exists, lead activation sphalerite occurred, thus was recovered together with froth. To remove soluble (e.g., anglesite) that have detrimental effects on separation efficiency surface cleaning pretreatment using ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) applied before flotation. Although most were removed recovery improved from 19% 81% at 20 g/t potassium amyl xanthate (KAX) after EDTA washing, floatability not suppressed. zinc sulfate used a depressant for deactivation lead-activated by sulfate. proposed ores—a combination depression sulfate—could achieve highest sphalerite; is, 200 KAX, recoveries 86% 17%, respectively.