Beneficiation of arsenic bearing complex sulphide ore by flotation

In this study beneficiation of a sulphide ore from the Gümüşhane-Black Sea Region of Turkey was investigated. Detailed flotation studies were carried out with the ore sample which contained 2.95% Pb, 6.72% Zn and 0.32% Cu. Mineralogical analyses showed that the sample includes pyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, tennantite, cerussite, anglesite and smithsonite. On the other hand, hematite, goethite, limonite, calcite and quartz were determined as gangue minerals. Selective sulphide concentrates with low arsenic content were tried to be produced by froth flotation. Individual concentrates of Pb, Zn and Cu assayed 67.54% Pb, and 61.49% Zn and 23.31% Cu where corresponding recoveries were 73.0% and 77.1% and 38.7%, respectively. Arsenic contents were less than 2000 ppm in the lead and zinc con-centrates. Copper concentrate assayed 5.03% As since the major copper minerals were in tennantite form (copper arsenic sulphide mineral). In flotation tests, non-toxic reagents such as metabisulphite, caustified starch, and activated carbon were used to depress minerals in relevant circuits.