SULPHIDE ORE BENEFICIATION TO OBTAIN MOLYBDENUM CONCENTRATE – TECHNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS

ABSTRACT. This paper presents and analyses the technological investigations carried out for the beneficiation of primary sulphide ore from a porphyry-copper deposit aimed at obtaining molybdenum concentrate. In previous works, the chemical, mineral, and particle size composition, as well as sulphide copper ore grindability were studied. Phase analysis for determining the forms of copper presence has been performed. Selective-bulk flotation flowsheet was developed, including three cycles: bulk flotation, copper-pyrite selection, and pyrite flotation. The optimal technological parameters for each flotation cycle have been experimentally determined. It was found that molybdenum is represented by molybdenite, mostly associated with chalcopyrite and less frequently with pyrite. Experiments were conducted with the copper-molybdenum concentrate from the technological sample laboratory to determine the optimum values of the main factors, which have a significant effect on molybdenum flotation. In conclusion, the results obtained have been summarised and analysed.