US1260668A - Separation of metallic sulfid ores. - Google Patents

Description

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THE S HEBBAPLD AAND BASMUE JOHN HJHRIVIEY, 6F BRQKEN HELL, NEW' SOUTH AUSTILELLIA, ASEIGNOM, MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TU MIll'EEAL3 ESEPAR-ATION NOR'llH AMERICAN COELPORATIGN.

SEPARATION OF METALLIC SULYEID GEES.

ri eeoeee,

1% Ifirawing.

5. b all whom i6 may cmzcem:

Be it known limiwe, Jimmie llnnmno ancl lhenms Jonn iiilifikllvlll'i', subjects of the King of England, both residing in; Central Til line, l'lt'oken Hill, New Soul/l1 lleles, Aneltalin, have invented certain new and nselfiil Timprovenien ss in line Segmel'ion Elie-$21111!) Suliid Qree, of which 31 1 following is e speoifiealion.

This invention relnl 1o vermin matters in the separation of nniiei'l zinc and lead soiiicl oresnncl more s s}1)e0iall3-' to. the treatment oi. slimes. 1

ln this speeifioaL-ion jlie tern ores is iintei'icled in include concentrates, tailin s, slimes ami other products containing mixed metallio sulfide.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved method of effecting a li'fi'erential or prefezential flotation separation of lead snlficls (galeim) from zinc sulfide (biencle).

l ve have discovered that if mixed sulfifi ores and mo -e especially slimes me snbjecleti to froth flotation. separation preferably with a small quantity of an emulsifying agent Wil'il agitation and aeration in an acid solu tion in which the quantity of acid is less than that; required to produce acollective float of both the lead and zinc sulfide :1'

preferential flotation of the lead sulfide from the /inc. sulfide can be effected. If the residues are then subjecfi l to fnrtheiflotation separation, treatment with agitation and aeration and in the some circuit iiquors with the addifiion of a frofihing agent such eucalyptus oil float coineenti'etes relatively rich in zinc sen be obtained.

The aeicl {preferably sulfuric acid} which ie usecl in the first instance for the preferent e leacl sulfide may be milled to the circuit liquors Ofllllfi ores may be snijmit'leil to e prelimimry ligestion in en acid solution in which case the ecii l solve tion would be used in e reliminary mixing vessel. We have found he a betier separation is elko'zeal if an emulsifying egenl; is present in the eireuit liquors; even if only in minute quantities; ll circuit licgnors pie vionsly nseo in froth ilemtien eemraelen are employed (which are more or lees air emuls'i ilxen as e rule no addition oi? en gong agent is izequired lue flee Elie i 1 i: so Jim, hill. 1,: clean water; 5.5;

Epecification. of letters Patent.

Application filed August 28, E914.

Patented Serial No. EEBfiSTI.

Mien". 25H, HMS

eepumi ion in a circuit liquor n ich l1e lpweviously been need in froth flomtion severe lion, an amount of sulfuric lo 4; ins per ion of ore l1" with the tieeail. No a. d i in (11" enmlsifying agent was made. 'll'ie lion; eonconlrni'es produced from the first box Nye-(l Goff/Z; lead and 9.8% nine and own; ing the float products from the twelve be} in the series a lead oouconhfnte use 50.5{54 lead and 212% zine Wee Obi) representing a recovery of 62.9% lead.

ll imt We claim as our invention owl iesire to secure l" Letters .Pat-ent is 1.. A process for the separation of lead Silifid from zinc suliid in owe containing mixed lead and Zinc suliinls wiiieii consists in submitting such an ore to ixz'eni'eneni' with an acid solution containing a mineral acid in quantity froth flotation separation, and to agit. on and aeration, so to form a frolh in which the lead sulfid predominates, and supra-aiing the froth.

2. A process for the separation of lead sulfid fro zinc sulfid in ores conleining mixed iezul and Zinc suifirls which consists in. submitting seal], an ore :30 treatment with an acid solution containing a mineral acid.

in quantity less than the normal quantity 01 separation of leecl m ores contammg mixed lea-cl enel Zinc sulfide which consists" in submitting such an ore to a flotation separation treatment by agitation aiicl aeration in Wei-er containing a, quantity of mineral eeid less than is required in produce e ml: lee-live flee-h of will the lead mail zine an? anal eonleining a, frei-lxing agent in AZ men one queneity for infill;

less than lhe normal quantitv for tion separation, so as to form a froth in which the lead sulfid predominates, and separating the froth. I

i. A process for the separation of lead snlfid from zinc sulfid in ores containing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in submitting such an ore to a flotation separation treatment by agitation and aeration in water containing a quantity of mineral acid less than is required to produce a collective float of both the lead and zinc su1- fids and containing, a frotliing agent in less than the normal quantity for froth flotation separation so as to form a froth in which the lead sulfid predominates, and thereafter submitting the tailings to a further froth flotation-treatment with the addition of a frothino agent for the flotation of a froth in which the zinc sulfid predominates, and separating the froth.

5. A process for the separation of lead sulfid from zinc sulfid in ores containing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in submitting such an ore to treatment with a solution containing sulfuric acid in quantity less than the normal quantity for froth flotation separation, and to agitation and aeration, so as to form a froth in which the lead suifid predominates, and separating the froth.

6. A process for the separation of lead sulfid from zinc sulfid in ores containing mixed lead and zinc sulfide which consists in submitting such an ore to treatment with a solution containing sulfuric acid in quantity less than the normal quantity for froth flotation separation, and to agitation and aeration, so as to form a froth in which the lead sulfid predominates, and thereafter submitting the tailings to a further froth flotation treatment with the addition of a frothing agent for the flotation of a froth in which the zinc sulfid predominates, and separating; the froth.

7. A process for the separation of lead sultid from zinc sulfid in ores containing mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in submitting such an ore to a flotation separation treatment by agitation and aeration in water containing eucalyptus oil. in less than the normal quantity for froth fiotation separation, with the addition of a quantity of sulfuric acid less than is required to produce a collective float of both the lead and zinc sulfids, so as to form a froth in which the lead sulfid predominates, and separating the froth.

8. A process for the separation of lead sulfid from zinc sultid in ores containing mixed lead and zinc sulfids i hieh consists in submitting such an ore to a flotation separation treatment by agitation and aeration in Water containing eucalyptus oil in less than the normal quantity for froth flotation, with the addition of a quantity of sulfuric acid less than is required to produce a collective float of both the lead and zinc sulfids, so as to form a froth in which the lead sulfid predominates, and thereafter submitting the tailings to a further froth flotation trealn'ient with the addition of a frothing agent for the flotation of a froth in which the zinc sulfid predominates, and separating the froth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES HEBBARD. RASMUS JOHN HARVEY.

Witnesses to the signature of James Hebbard:

ERNEST WILLIAM Moss, Gnoixon GUY TALMONDTH. \Vitnesses to signature of Rasmus John Harvey:

ARTHUR Gone COLLIsON, LESLIE Hsncnirr BROADBURT.