The Amenability of the Jameson Cell for Pre-Rougher Applications in Base Metals

2019

Rodrigo Araya, Glencore Technology; Virginia Lawson, Glencore Technology; Cesar Gomez, McGill University

Most flotation circuits start with a roughing stage designed to maximize recovery of value minerals. The rougher concentrate is typically of relatively low grade that often needs regrinding to improve liberation before being upgraded to a saleable concentrate grade in subsequent cleaner stages. In practice, it is found that the flotation feed is composed of a distribution of mineral particles with various degrees of liberation. Ideally, size reduction should only be applied to particles that actually need regrinding. There are a number of base metal operations whose flotation feed contain a large fraction of liberated mineral particles from which final concentrate can be produced. This paper describes two case studies to test the amenability of the Jameson Cell to produce final concentrate from rougher feed. Metallurgical performance and economic implications related to regrinding capacity are discussed.

Keywords: flotation, rougher, regrinding, Jameson cell