Title: Flotation of oxidized copper ores

Abstract: Copper is recovered from an aqueous pulp of an ore containing both sulfide minerals and oxidized minerals by continuously monitoring the EMF of the pulp and adding a water-soluble sulfide to the pulp in an amount from 0.05 to 7 pounds of contained sulfur per ton of ore whenever and for so long as the pump EMF is above about -30 millivolts with reference to a standard silver-silver chloride electrode, and discontinuing such addition whenever such EMF in less than about -30 millivolts. Thereafter the pulp is subjected to a froth flotation operation in the presence of a collector for copper sulfide minerals to produce a concentrate containing most of the sulfide minerals and a substantial part of the oxidized minerals of the ore.

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Inventors: Holman, James B. (Inspiration, AZ, US)
Cronin, John A. (Inspiration, AZ, US)
Lamby, Bernhard (Moers, DT)

Application Number: 581267
Filing Date: 1975-05-27
Publication_date: 1977-03-08
Assignee: Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company (Inspiration, AZ)
Primary Class(es): 204/166 209/166, 423/26
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3421850	Jan, 1969	Peterson	423/43.
3582317	Jun, 1971	Gamo	75/117.
3667690	Nov, 1969	Weston	209/166.
3735931	May, 1973	Weston	209/166.
3883421	May, 1975	Cutting	75/2.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Rutledge, L. Dewayne
Assistant Examiner: Lewis, Michael L.
Attorney: