Applications – Gold
Molycop froth flotation chemicals are used to enhance recovery by selectively separating gold-bearing minerals from gangue.
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- Flotation recovery of gold is dependent on recovery of the associated minerals
- Gold flotation recovery requires a focus on floating the associated base metals and often pyrite minerals
- Producing a pyrite concentrate with associated gold maximises gold recovery
Product Overview
Gold has varying modes of occurrence in sulfide ores ranging from being disseminated and interstitial in minerals such as lead and copper, in oxide ores as disseminated particles, and as free milling gold or association with tellurides.Where gold is intimately associated with various sulfide minerals, especially iron sulfides including pyrite, arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite, flotation recovery of gold is dependent on recovery of the associated minerals. In this case gold follows the associated sulfide mineral recovery.
Free gold flotation is not possible because gold is a noble element, which means it is a chemically nonreactive metallic. Since sulfide flotation collectors chemisorb to the target mineral surfaces and because noble metals don’t react, collector adsorption on a pure gold surface isn’t possible.
Use of cresylic-based dithiophosphates does provide some collection of gold, particularly in gold-silver ore flotation. Alternatively, if there is significant metallic gold association with silver metal, because silver has a reactive surface for collector bonding, collectors for silver indirectly also result in gold recovery.
Optimal gold flotation recovery
Gold flotation recovery requires a focus on floating the associated base metals (predominantly lead, copper) and often pyrite minerals. While lime is often used in base sulfide mineral flotation, because excess lime also tends to depress gold flotation, a balance must be maintained between good base metal metallurgy and gold recoveries.Natural pH is recommended for gold flotation. Alternatively, using soda ash for pH adjustment can reduce gold depression.
Where gold is associated with pyrite in base metal ores where iron sulfides are depressed and report to the tailings, a separate tailings pyrite flotation concentrate should be considered. Producing a pyrite concentrate with associated gold maximises gold recovery.
Product Typical Uses
Molycop froth flotation chemicals are used to enhance gold recovery by selectively separating gold-bearing minerals from gangue. These flotation chemicals optimise recovery concentration of gold, enabling more efficient downstream processes, such as cyanidation or smelting, to extract precious metal from the concentrate.Product Benefits
- Improved gold recovery: Molycop chemicals can efficiently recover fine gold particles, especially when associated with sulfide minerals or other ores.
- Selective separation: Chemicals allow for selective flotation of gold-bearing minerals, improving concentrate quality and purity.
