초록 ▼

The present invention relates to flotation of sulfidic copper-molybdenum- and gold-containing minerals. More specifically, the invention relates to sulfoxy reagent-assisted floatation for separating of sulfides of copper, molybdenum and gold from pyrite, marcasite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and othe

The present invention relates to flotation of sulfidic copper-molybdenum- and gold-containing minerals. More specifically, the invention relates to sulfoxy reagent-assisted floatation for separating of sulfides of copper, molybdenum and gold from pyrite, marcasite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and other gangue minerals following aerating by an oxidizing gas and contacting by a sulfoxy reagent. To promote collection and flotation the feed mineral materials are preferably not contacted with an externally generated non-oxidizing gas to lower the dissolved molecular oxygen content prior to flotation.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A process for recovering one or more metals, comprising: providing an oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material comprising a valuable metal sulfide mineral, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material comprises one or more of brackish water having a

1. A process for recovering one or more metals, comprising: providing an oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material comprising a valuable metal sulfide mineral, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material comprises one or more of brackish water having a salinity of about 0.1 parts per thousand (0.01%) or more, saltwater having a salinity of about 0.1 parts per thousand (0.01%) or more, fresh water having a salinity of about 0.1 parts per thousand (0.01%) or more, and buffered water having a salinity of about 0.1 parts per thousand (0.01%) or more, and a gangue sulfide mineral comprising iron pyrite; andcontacting the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material, while maintaining the dissolved oxygen content of the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material at a level of at least about 3 ppm, with a sulfoxy reagent to form a treated slurried feed material; andfloating the treated slurried feed material to form a concentrate comprising the valuable metal sulfide mineral and tailings comprising the iron pyrite. 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is free of pH adjustment before and during the floating step. 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material has a pH of less than pH 8.5. 4. The process of claim 1, wherein, prior to the floating step, the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is not contacted with an externally generated non-oxidizing gas to lower a dissolved molecular oxygen content of the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material. 5. The process of claim 1, wherein at least about 50 g/t of the sulfoxy reagent is added to the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material. 6. The process of claim 1, wherein the floating step is a cleaner flotation, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is a rougher concentrate of a rougher flotation, and wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is free of contact with a sulfoxy reagent prior to the rougher flotation. 7. The process of claim 1, wherein the sulfoxy reagent is one or more of an ammonium, hydrogen, alkali, or alkaline earth metal sulfite, bisulfite, and metabisulfite. 8. The process of claim 1, wherein the tailings further comprises at least one of marcasite, arsenopyrite, and pyrrhotite. 9. The process of claim 1, wherein the valuable metal sulfide mineral comprises at least one of a copper sulfide and molybdenum sulfide, wherein the floating step is a cleaner flotation, wherein the sulfoxy reagent is added to a solution derived from a regrind circuit, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is a rougher concentrate of a rougher flotation, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is free of contact with a sulfoxy reagent prior to the rougher flotation, and wherein more than 200 g/t of sulfoxy reagent is added to the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material. 10. The process of claim 1, wherein, prior to the floating step, the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is not contacted with an externally generated non-oxidizing gas to lower a dissolved molecular oxygen content of the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material, and wherein the oxygenated, slurried feed material has a pH of less than about pH 8.5. 11. The process of claim 1, wherein the floating step is a cleaner flotation, wherein the sulfoxy reagent is added to an aqueous slurry derived from the valuable metal sulfide mineral in a mill, wherein the mill is in a regrind circuit, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is a rougher concentrate of a rougher flotation, and wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is free of contact with a sulfoxy reagent prior to rougher flotation. 12. The process of claim 1, wherein the contacting step comprises contacting the sulfoxy reagent with a freshly exposed and unoxidized surface of the valuable metal sulfide mineral. 13. The process of claim 1, wherein the contacting of sulfoxy reagent with the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material occurs during one or both of a primary and secondary comminution. 14. The process of claim 1, wherein the valuable metal sulfide mineral contains one or both of gold and silver. 15. A process for recovering one or more metals, comprising: providing an oxygen-sparged, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material comprising a valuable metal sulfide mineral and a gangue sulfide mineral, wherein the oxygen-sparged, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material comprises one or more of brackish water having one or more of a salinity of about 0.01% or more and a total dissolved solids content of at least about 10,000 mg/L, salt water having one or more of a salinity of about 0.01% or more and a total dissolved solids content of at least about 10,000 mg/L, fresh water having one or more of a salinity of about 0.01% or more and a total dissolved solids content of at least about 10,000 mg/L, and buffered water having one or more of a salinity of about 0.01% or more and a total dissolved solids content of at least about 10,000 mg/L;contacting the oxygen-sparged, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material, while maintaining the dissolved oxygen content of the oxygen-sparged, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material at an amount of least about 3 ppm, with a sulfoxy reagent to form a treated slurried feed material; andfloating the treated slurried feed material to form a concentrate comprising the valuable metal sulfide mineral and tailings comprising the gangue sulfide mineral, wherein the valuable metal sulfide mineral comprises at least one of a copper sulfide mineral and molybdenum sulfide mineral and wherein the gangue sulfide mineral comprises iron pyrite. 16. The process of claim 15, wherein the contacting of the oxygen-sparged, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material with the sulfoxy reagent to form the treated slurried feed material comprises a first portion of the sulfoxy reagent, the process further comprising one or more of: i) contacting a second portion of the sulfoxy reagent during comminution;ii) contacting a second portion of the sulfoxy reagent during cleaning;iii) contacting a second portion of the sulfoxy reagent during re-cleaning; andi) contacting a second portion of the sulfoxy reagent during scavenging. 17. The process of claim 15, further comprising: conditioning the treated slurried feed material prior to the floating of the treated slurried feed material, wherein the conditioning step comprises contacting the treated slurried feed material with one or more of:(a) a collector;(b) a frother;(c) an activator;(d) a depressant;(e) a clay dispersant;(f) a modifier;(g) lime; and(h) a reagent to control electropotential (Eh), pH or both Eh and pH. 18. The process of claim 15, wherein the providing and floating steps are conducted at a pH from pH 3 to about pH 8 and an Eh of one or more of: greater than about 5 mV and less than about 155 mV or from about 10 to about 120 mV. 19. The process of claim 15, wherein the gangue sulfide mineral further comprises one or more of marcasite, pyrrhotite, and arsenopyrite, and wherein the process further comprises: conditioning, after the providing step, the oxygen-sparged, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material with one or more of a collector and frother to form a conditioned feed material, wherein the conditioning step is conducted in the absence of any added sulfoxy reagent. 20. The process of claim 15, wherein, prior to the floating step, the oxygen-sparged slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is not contacted with an externally generated non-oxidizing gas to lower a dissolved molecular oxygen content of the oxygen-sparged slurried valuable metal-containing feed material. 21. The process of claim 15, wherein at least about 50 g/t of the sulfoxy reagent is added to the oxygen-sparged, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material, and wherein the sulfoxy reagent is one or more of an ammonium, hydrogen, alkali, or alkaline earth metal sulfite, bisulfite, and metabisulfite. 22. A process for recovering one or more metals, comprising: providing a slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material having a dissolved oxygen content of at least about 3 ppm and at least one of a copper sulfide and molybdenum sulfide mineral as a valuable metal sulfide mineral, wherein the slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material comprises one or more of brackish water having one or more of a salinity of about 0.01% or more and a dissolved solids content of at least about 10,000 mg/L, salt water having one or more of a salinity of about 0.01% or more and a dissolved solids content of at least about 10,000 mg/L, fresh water having one or more of a salinity of about 0.01% or more and a dissolved solids content of at least about 10,000 mg/L, and buffered water having one or more of a salinity of about 0.01% or more and a dissolved solids content of at least about 10,000 mg/L, and gangue sulfide mineral comprising iron pyrite;contacting the slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material, while maintaining the dissolved oxygen content of the slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material at about at least 3 ppm, with a sulfoxy reagent to form a treated slurried feed material; andfloating the treated slurried feed material to form a concentrate. 23. The process of claim 22, wherein, prior to the floating step, the slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material is not contacted with an externally generated non-oxidizing gas to lower a dissolved molecular oxygen content of the slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material. 24. The process of claim 22, wherein the at least one of a copper sulfide and molybdenum sulfide is a copper sulfide, wherein the floating step is cleaner flotation, wherein the sulfoxy reagent is added to a solution derived from a regrind circuit, wherein the slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material is a rougher concentrate of a rougher flotation, wherein the slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material is free of contact with a sulfoxy reagent prior to the rougher flotation, and wherein more than 200 g/t of sulfoxy reagent is added to the slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material. 25. The process of claim 22, wherein at least about 50 g/t of the sulfoxy reagent is added to the slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material. 26. The process of claim 22, wherein the floating step is a cleaner flotation, wherein the slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material is a rougher concentrate of a rougher flotation, and wherein the slurried valuable metal- and oxygen-containing feed material is free of contact with a sulfoxy reagent prior to the rougher flotation. 27. The process of claim 22, wherein the sulfoxy reagent is one or more of an ammonium, hydrogen, alkali, or alkaline earth metal sulfite, bisulfite, and metabisulfite. 28. The process of claim 22, wherein the gangue sulfide mineral further comprises at least one of marcasite, arsenopyrite, and pyrrhotite. 29. A with process for recovering one or more metals, comprising: providing a slurried valuable metal-containing feed material comprising a valuable metal sulfide mineral and a second sulfide mineral comprising pyrite to be separated from the valuable metal sulfide mineral, wherein the valuable metal sulfide mineral is at least one of a copper sulfide and molybdenum sulfide, and wherein the slurried valuable metal-containing feed material comprises water having at least one of: a buffered water having one or more of a salinity of about 0.01% or more and a total dissolved solids of at least about 10,000 mg/L, a brackish water having one or more of a salinity of about 0.01% or more and a total dissolved solids of at least about 10,000 mg/L, a fresh water having a salinity of about 0.01% or more, a salt water having one or more of a salinity of about 25 parts per thousand (2.5%) or more, and a mixture thereof;aerating, with a molecular oxygen-containing gas, the slurried valuable metal-containing feed material to form an aerated slurried feed material;contacting at least a portion of the aerated slurried feed material with a sulfoxy reagent, in the presence of dissolved molecular oxygen, to form a sulfoxylated slurry; andfloating the sulfoxylated slurry to form a concentrate. 30. A process for recovering one or more metals, comprising: providing an oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material comprising a valuable metal sulfide mineral, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material comprises a water having a salinity of about 0.1 parts per thousand (0.01%) or more, and a gangue sulfide mineral comprising iron pyrite; andcontacting the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material, while maintaining the dissolved oxygen content of the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material at a level of at least about 3 ppm, with a sulfoxy reagent to form a treated slurried feed material; andfloating the treated slurried feed material to form a concentrate comprising the valuable metal sulfide mineral and tailings comprising the iron pyrite. 31. The process of claim 30, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is free of pH adjustment before and during the floating step. 32. The process of claim 30, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material has a pH of less than pH 8.5. 33. The process of claim 30, wherein, prior to the floating step, the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is not contacted with an externally generated non-oxidizing gas to lower a dissolved molecular oxygen content of the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material. 34. The process of claim 30, wherein at least about 50 g/t of the sulfoxy reagent is added to the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material. 35. The process of claim 30, wherein the floating step is a cleaner flotation, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is a rougher concentrate of a rougher flotation, and wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is free of contact with a sulfoxy reagent prior to the rougher flotation. 36. The process of claim 30, wherein the sulfoxy reagent is one or more of an ammonium, hydrogen, alkali, or alkaline earth metal sulfite, bisulfite, and metabisulfite. 37. The process of claim 30, wherein the gangue sulfide mineral further comprises at least one of marcasite, arsenopyrite, and pyrrhotite. 38. The process of claim 30, wherein the valuable metal sulfide mineral comprises at least one of a copper sulfide and molybdenum sulfide, wherein the floating step is cleaner flotation, wherein the sulfoxy reagent is added to a solution derived from a regrind circuit, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is a rougher concentrate of a rougher flotation, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is free of contact with a sulfoxy reagent prior to the rougher flotation, and wherein more than 200 g/t of sulfoxy reagent is added to the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material. 39. The process of claim 30, wherein, prior to the floating step, the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is not contacted with an externally generated non-oxidizing gas to lower a dissolved molecular oxygen content of the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material, and wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material has a pH of less than about pH 8.5. 40. The process of claim 30, wherein the floating step is a cleaner flotation, wherein the sulfoxy reagent is added to an aqueous slurry derived from the valuable metal sulfide mineral in a mill, wherein the mill is in a regrind circuit, wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is a rougher concentrate of a rougher flotation, and wherein the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material is free of contact with a sulfoxy reagent prior to rougher flotation. 41. The process of claim 30, wherein the contacting step comprises contacting the sulfoxy reagent with a freshly exposed and unoxidized surface of the valuable metal sulfide mineral. 42. The process of claim 30, wherein the contacting of the sulfoxy reagent with the oxygenated, slurried valuable metal-containing feed material occurs during one or both of a primary and secondary comminution. 43. The process of claim 30, wherein the valuable metal sulfide mineral contains one or both of gold and silver.