Flotation and Magnetic Separation of High-oxidation Rate Copper-cobalt Mixed Ores of SICOMINES in DR Congo

ObjectiveIt takes the low-grade high-oxidation copper-cobalt ore of SICOMINES in Congo as the research object. Facing the status quo in which the copper-cobalt ore had a high oxidation rate and a low grade, but a large volume of ore body, with high value of mining and utilization, in order to efficiently develop and utilize the ore resources, flotation and magnetic separation tests were systematically carried out. MethodThe combined process of ‘flotation of sulfide ore - sulfidizing flotation of oxide ore - magnetic separation’ was adopted, and a suitable flotation chemical system and a magnetic separation plan were developed through condition tests. Result ①Copper-cobalt sulfide crude concentrate with Cu grade of 2.29% and recovery rate of 4.78%, Co grade of 0.145% and recovery rate of 4.97% can be obtained through two phases of sulfidizing flotation from raw ores when the fineness of grinding at -0.074 mm 72.5%. ②Copper-cobalt oxide crude concentrate with Cu grade of 9.93% with 78.49% recovery, Co grade of 0.271% with 35.14% recovery of can be obtained from sulfidizing flotation tailings through seven phases of oxide ore flotation. ③Copper-cobalt crude concentrate with Cu grade of 1.28% and recovery rate of 6.37%, Co grade of 0.310% and recovery rate of 25.26% can be obtained from oxide ore flotation tailings through two phases of magnetic separation. The final total recovery rate of copper and cobalt obtained through the combined flotation and magnetic separation process was 89.64% and 65.37%, respectively. ConclusionThis realizes the comprehensive recovery of valuable metals in low-grade high-oxidation copper-cobalt ores.