Reprocessing of a southern Chilean Zn tailing by flotation - a case study


Reprocessing of a southern Chilean Zn tailing by flotation - a case study

Babel, B.; Penz, M.; Schach, E.; Böhme, S.; Rudolph, M.

The reprocessing of tailings can have economic and environmental benefits compared to the processing of primary ore deposits. In this paper we present the characterization of a tailings dam in southern Chile by means of mineralogical and geochemical investigations focusing on sphalerite and trace elements with the aim to investigate a potential reprocessing. The assessment is followed by a flotation study, focusing on the recovery of sphalerite with a high selectivity towards sulfidic and non-sulfidic gangue minerals. An in-depth analysis of a selected test based on mineral liberation analysis data is used to refine the liberation, concentration and flotation weighting function for future investigations.

Keywords: Geometallurgy; Flotation; Sphalerite; Tailings; Reprocessing

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Publ.-Id: 27707