Experimental Study on a Refractory Rich Silver-lead-zinc Sulfide Ore Bearing Copper from Tibet

In view of the characteristics of a refractory rich silver-bearing copper-lead-zinc sulfide ore in Tibet,namely valuable minerals with a close paragenetic relationship,uneven fine dissemination and serious inclusions,a flotation process consisting of copper-lead-zinc bulk flotation,regrinding,copper-lead bulk flotation and separation was adopted.Based on the condition tests,the best grinding fineness and the optimal consumptions of flotation reagents were determined.Then,the closed circuit flotation experiment was conducted.The results indicated that under the optimum conditions,the copper concentrate with grade of 14.48% and a recovery of 59.72%,the lead concentrate with grade of 53.74% and a recovery of 88.78%,and the zinc concentrate with a grade of 57.18% and a recovery of 84.57% were obtained.Meanwhile,the associated gold with a grade of 73.30 g/t and a recovery of 41.47% and the associated silver with a grade of 12 507 g/t and a recovery of 83.12% were enriched in copper concentrate.Therefore,valuable elements of lead,zinc,copper,gold and silver could be effectively separated and recovered.