LIU Yan-hao¹, TIAN Xiao-song², XIE Hai-yun^1*, SUN Rui¹, GAO Li-kun¹, LIU Rong-xin¹

(1. Faculty of Land Resource Engineering; Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China;
2. Yunnan Copper Mine Research Institute, Kunming 650093, Yunnan, China)

Abstract: The refractory lead oxide ore has become an important source of lead production with the continuous depletion of lead sulfide mineral resources. The low grade lead oxide ore from Myanmar has Pb grade of 1.78% and an oxidation rate of 76.97%, Consists of lead minerals including major cerusite and minor sardinianite and galena. In this paper, the sulfidation-xanthate flotation method was adopted to undertake flotation experiment of the ore, the mechanism of action of the sulphurizing agent, collectors, and inhibitors on the lead oxide ore was analyzed, and the influence of factors, including the grinding fineness, reagent types and dosage, and processing flow, etc., on the flotation indexes have been studied through flotation tests. Based on the determined conditions, a closed circuit test with one stage rougher, second stage scavenger and third stage cleaner flotation was carried out to process the run-of-mine ore with a lead grade of 1.78% by adding the sulphurizing agent of sodium sulfide, inhibitors of sodium silicate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and collectors of butylxanthan and hydroxamic acid, with the final obtained lead concentrate containg 56.73% Pb at a recovery rate of 82.83%.

Keywords: lead oxide ore; sulfurization flotation;depressant; collectors

ACTA MINERALOGICA SINICA Vol. 41, No.1, 2021, page 78-84