The behaviour of minerals in sulphide flotation

processes, with reference to simulation and

control.
by A. J. LYNCH*, Ph.D.,
N. W. JOHNSON*, Ph.D.,
D. J. McKEE*, Ph.D., and
G. C. THORNE*, B.Sc. (Hons.) (Visitors)
SYNOPSIS
In sulphide flotation processes, there are two mechanisms by which particles are transferred from the flotation
pulp to the concentrate: adhesion to air bubbles and natural flotation, and entrainment in the froth. The entrainment
mechanism is particularly important for particles of non-sulphide gangue, which do not absorb collector. The im-
portance of controlling the recovery rate of water was illustrated in plant testwork in which selectivity between
valuable sulphides and sulphide gangue, and between valuable sulphides and non-sulphide gangue, was altered by
manipulation of variables affecting the water recovery rate.
The two mechanisms should be recognized in the development of a control system. Most of the control schemes
in operating plants have concentrated on reagent additions, which affect the natural flotation mechanism. Although
control of the chemical environment is clearly of paramount importance in flotation, plant tests have shown that
control of the variables affecting the entrainment mechanism is also important.

SAMEVATTING
In die sulfiedflottasieprosesse is daar twee meganismes waardeur partikels uit die flottasiepulp na die konsentraat
oorgedra word: adhesie aan lugborrels en natuurlike flottasie, en saamsleping in die skuim. Die saamsleepmeganisme
is van besondere belang vir partikels van nie-sulfiedaarsteen wat nie die versamelaar adsorbeer nie. Die belang-
rikheid van beheer oor die herwinningstempo van die water is geHlustreer in aanlegtoetswerk waar die selektiwi-
teit tussen waardevolle sulfiede en sulfjedaarsteen en tussen waardevolle sulfiede en nie-sulfiedaarsteen gewysig is
deur die manipulasie van die veranderlikes wat die waterherwinningstempo be"lnvloed.
Die twee meganismes moet in die ontwikkeling van 'n kontrolestelsel erken word. Die meeste kontrolestelsels in
bedryfsaanlegginge het hulle toegespits op die byvoeging van reagense wat die natuurlike flottasiemeganisme
be"lnvloed. Hoewel beheer oor die chemiese omgewing vanselfsprekend van die allergrootste belang in flottasie is,
het aanlegtoetse getoon dat beheer oor die veranderlikes wat die meesleepmeganisme bernvloed, ook belangrik is.

INTRODUCTION have been made to describe the pro- fulfil is possessed by the modeller',
In the concentration of mineral cesses mathematically so that com- and that 'this normally requires a
sulphides by flotation, advantage is puter simulation techniques can be close interaction between operational
taken of differences in the surface used to develop circuit optimization practice and modelling theory'.
nature of the mineral species to and control procedures. Types of In research work on flotation
separate the collector-coated val- model have been described by Wood- modelling at the Julius Kruttschnitt
uable sulphides from the more burn1 and Jowett et al.2. The im- Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC),
hydrophilic sulphide and non-sul- portance of the recovery rate of the differential flotation rates of
phide gangues. The metallurgical water on the process has not gen- valuable sulphides and gangue min-
efficiency is governed by the ability erally been recognized in simulation erals in sulphide ores have been in-
of the process to produce sufficient models, and this has resulted in vestigated. Testwork has been con-
difference in the recovery rates of poor agreement between the ob- ducted in several concentrators treat-
the minerals to obtain a high served and predicted plant per- ing a variety of copper and lead-zinc
recovery of the valuable sulphide at formance. sulphide ores. The plant work has
an acceptable grade. Selectivity is In the development of the models, been supplemented where necessary
altered by a change in the operating much emphasis has been placed on with particular laboratory and pilot-
variables, e.g., reagent additions, theoretical and laboratory work, but scale tests. The data obtained, to-
pulp level, air addition. little systematic data collection has gether with such other plant data as
In recent years, there has been a been done in operating plants. Con- are available, have been used in an
movement in industry towards auto- sequently, some of the complexities investigation of the pattern of
matic control, the incentive being in the flotation process, such as the behaviour of the valuables and
higher metallurgical efficiency. This effect of entrainment, which may gangue minerals with a view to
improved efficiency stems from exert marked influences on the developing simulation and control
greater circuit stability and reagent results of the process, have not techniques. These patterns of be-
savings, and from closer operation been recognized. In this regard, it is haviour, as observed in operating
to the process limits. Many attempts pertinent to repeat the comments of plants and as affected by changes in
Woodburnl, that 'the formulation of some variables with control possi-
[flotation] models can only be im- bilities, are discussed in this paper.
*Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research proved if a clear understanding of Bubble attachment to the col-
Centre, University of Queensland, Aus-
tralia. the role that the model is destined to lector-coated sulphide surface has

JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY APRIL 1974 349
 TABLE I
DESCRIPTION OF SULPHIDE ORES THAT WERE EXAMINED BY THE JKMRC

Company Location Main sulphide Gangue sulphide Other gangue Reference

minerals minerals
I I

Philex Mining Corporation Luzon, Phillipines Chalcopyrite Negligible Quartz 93% Johnson I"
(0,5 % Cu) Magnetite 6%

Mount Isa Mines Limited Queensland, Chalcopyrite Pyrite Quartz 75% McKee"
(3,0 % Cu) Pyrrhotite 6% Dolomite
Australia 10%

Mount Lyell Mining and Tasmania, Chalcopyrite Pyrite 10% Quartz 87% 0 McKee"
Railway Company Limited Australia (1,0% Cu) I
Peko Mines Limited Northern Territory, Chalcopyrite Pyrite 11% Magnetite 50%
Australia (3,0 % Cu) Quartz 1...30%0 J ohnson I"
Chlorite J
Bougainville Copper Pty Bougainville Chaleopyrite Negligible Quartz 95% J ohnson I"
Limited Island, P.N.G. (0,7 % Cu) Magnetite 3%,

New Broken Hill N.S.W., Australia Galena, Marmatite Negligible Quartz Thorne12
Consolidated Limited (8% Pb 13% Zn) Rhodonite

North Broken Hill Limited N.S.W., Australia Galena, Marmatite Negligible Quartz, Calcite Thorne12
(13% Pb, 10% Zn) Rhodonite

TABLE II
SOURCES OF OTHER PUBLISHED DATA ON SULPHIDE ORES

Company Location Main minerals Reference

--
Nchanga Consolidated Copper Mines Limited Zambia Chalcopyrite, malachite, quartz, silicates Kelsall13

Mount Isa Mines Limited . . . . . Queensland, Australia Chalcopyrite, pyrite, quartz, dolomite Bull"

The Zinc Corporation Limited. . . . . . . . N.S.W., Australia Galena, marmatite Bull"

long been recognized as the principal
mechanism for the recovery
mineral sulphides by flotation.
Considerable research (for example,
Gaudin3, Glembotskii et al.4, Bull5,
Woodcock and Jones6, 7) has been
done on the importance of variables
that affect this mechanism.
entrainment mechanism, in which
pulp is entrained between bubble-
mineral aggregates and carried over
into the concentrate launder, was
discussed by JowettS in 1966, and it
has been shown in more recent work
both in the laboratory and in con-
tinuous plants (Johnson et al.9) to
be responsible for the recovery of
free non-sulphide gangue. This mech-
anism is more selective with regard
to particle size and specific gravity,
but air bubble attachment
more selective with regard to min-
eral type since this determines the
extent to which the particle surface
can be made hydrophobic.
In this paper, the observed flo-
tation behaviour of the mineral
types is described, and an expla-
nation for the behaviour is given in
terms of flotation mechanisms. Sim-
ulation models are also discussed. ent ores showed a common pattern
of Various flotation control schemes are of behaviour. The behaviour of the
discussed with reference to the three main groups (i.e., sulphide
observed mechanisms. valuable, sulphide gangue, and non-
The sulphide ores studied in the sulphide gangue) is discussed in
JKMRC test programme are listed more detail in the next section. The
in Table I. recovery-time curves for each size
The The sources of other published fraction of minerals in the Mount
plant data on sulphide flotation Isa rougher bank are shown in Fig. 2,
processes are given in Table H. and the consistency of behaviour
from size to size will be noted. From
SUMMARY OF THE the data available on industrial
FLOTATION BEHAVIOUR sulphide flotation processes, the fol-
OF SULPHIDE ORES lowing comments are made.
IN PLANT CIRCUITS (1) For each ore, there is a sig-
The recovery-time relationships nificant difference between the
for sulphide minerals, non-sulphide rates of flotation of the valuable
gangue, and water are shown in sulphides, gangue sulphides, and
Fig. 1 for many of the rougher/ non-sulphide gangue.
scavenger banks discussed in this (2) For each there is a similarity
is paper. The high flowrates of con- between the recovery rates of
centrate encountered in plant samp- non-sulphide gangue and water.
ling usually make direct measure- (3) Even with the sulphide minerals,
ment of flowrates impracticable. there is a dependence of re-
Consequently, the recoveries of the covery rate on the recovery rate
components were based on the flow- of water.
rates calculated by the two-product
formula applied to assays and pulp FLOTATION RATES AND
densities. RECOVERY MECHANISMS
The various minerals in the differ- The recovery of a particular

350 APRIL 1974 JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY
 100 Mt. Iso Chalcopyrite Nth. B H Galena mineral is the combined result of the
11
1111-
-2=32-3 3 selective bubble-attachment and
1 ~23- water-entrainment recovery mech-
,1 ~l;:::;:- ~6- Peke Chalcopyrite anisms. The relative importance of
90 2 either mechanism depends on the

,/
"><J6C(---Phile~~~;pyrite nature of the mineral (e.g., type,
80
, BHe Galena
fineness of grind), the chemical
/lOON
flotation environment (e.g., col-
lector, modifier, salt concentrations),
and the physical variables that affect
70 / 5S~
Mt. Lyell Chalcopyrite the availability of air in the pulp
3 5
12 5
56 7 and the recovery rate of water
(e.g., frother, air, pulp level). This
60 is illustrated, for example, in the
IY
,'tt/ Mt. Iso Pyrite
lead flotation circuit of New Broken
Hill Consolidated Limited (NBHC).
50 Galena is selectively floated free of
>-
a:: I 511
marmatite and non-sulphide gangue.
The recovery-size curves after six
w
>
0
rougher machines are shown in
u Peke Pyrite Fig. 3.
w /" For galena, because the mineral
a::
30
~
II '
has a high specific gravity
cause most of the particles have a
and be-

/
hydrophobic surface, selective at-
20 I
M
11
7 9------
9 ----
Nth. B H Ma~matite tachment is more important.
shape of the curve is typical
valuable sulphides (Kelsall and Stew-
The
for

10 "
0---908
~ ~o N B H C Marmatite arP5, Morris16). Maximum
is obtained in an intermediate
recovery
size
,o[~~~ Mt. Lyell Pyrite range between about 15 and 70 /Lm,
7~ 8
0 with lower recovery in the finer
40 WATER and coarser fractions. For mar-
matite, which is a less dense sul-
phide than galena and activated to
Mt. Iso only a minor extent, entrainment
30 #
>-
a:: cP
r ./
Peke has a greater effect. In Fig. 3, the
shape of the curve describing the
w 20 d recovery of the coarser sizes is
> I / /
0
U Mt. NBHC /.
Nth. B H
characteristic of selective
ment, whereas the increase in re-
attach-

e
w r
a:: 10 C L el! . --=.L:.-:::8=Q-t:.-t:.-t:. covery in the fines is evidence of

~ .
8~8;:::::;-
\

+-+0+- - - --. 0
Phi lex 0
0----
entrainment.
gangue, entrainment
For the non-sulphide
is still more

0
16
-
,8+
NON-SULPHIDE GANGUE
important,
percentage
except
in
for the small
composites with

/Mt. Iso /'

. Peke
floatable sulphide.
A quantitative
been developed
relationship
between
has
th ~ re-
12 covery rates of water and free non-
>-
a:: c . sulphide gangue, and this will be
w discussed later. These equations can
>
0 8 be extended to describe the influence
u of the water recovery rate on the
w !:t '/Nth BH recovery rate of the sulphides.
4 cI Lyell . /
a::
t:.--t:. _t:.-t:.-t:. FLOTATION MODELS
~ ~ __~~lex
ob+-, .1~~: I O_8_N!-
I I~~o- I
Non-sulphide Gangue
Some non-sulphide particles ad-
4 8 12 16 20 24 sorb sufficient collector to make them
hydrophobic, and they float by
NOMINAL RETENTION TIME (min.) bubble attachment. However, the
Fig. I-Behaviour ofsulphlde and gangue minerals and water In several chalcopy- majority of non-sulphide particles
rite and galena flotation processes do not become hydrophobic, and
.JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY APRIL 1974 351
 Symbol. Size Fraction.
~(microns)
z 100
z . . . x- +104 -147
.- +147

w ~80 . . 0-0- +74 -104
a:::
w
+x
.....+53 -74

I- 60 0 l1-+43 -53
0 i
a::: v- +37 -43
>- <>~
0... ~..-+28 -37
0 40 0 x
U 0 + x
--1 0 x . -+25 -37
:r: a + x x x x x x
+
u 20 ~0 a a a + + +
~<fJt0 a Dc Dc to to
~iv2i <P-
~0
100
Rv
~.
x . . .
x x
~x
0 x
. . ~<>II
x
. .
~<JJ0~
. .
0 0
x x x x x
80 ~~0 0

Z . 0
<:8
~l1
v 0
0
0
0
0 0 0
Z l1 0 0

60 +
. v l1 0
~0 'g ~l1 0
W
a:::
. i+ E l1 0 c 0 c c
40 ~VG l1.
V0 vG
l1 l1 l1 l1
W . <>+ '\P V0 V0
I- ~-+20 -28 . . <>+<>+
a:::
>- 20 <> -+18 -25 . . <>+ <>+
. .. . .
<>+ <>+
0...
~-+14-20 . .
. . ~.
0 . - +12 -18
.
100
t8 io ~. .
xC . ..
.
~~&
0
V l1 ....
fv r
R<
~~~v
w . ~
v xo Xo Xo Xc Xo
z . ~itJO v H & &
z . i. 0 v v v &v &V
90 if ~8
. 0
~.- ~ 8 8 8
~w
a:::
~w .
. . ~.- .- .- .- ..
~~w .
~~~a::: . . . ~*
w
~.-+10-14 . . . . . .
3: +- -12 . .
80 . .
w w . .
::J
z

~. - -10
w
w
~0- Overall Result. w w
w- Water. ~w w w w
70
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
e6MPARTME~r NUMBER
Fig. 2-Relationshlps between percentage of chalcopyrlte, pyrite, and gangue
remaining and compartment number for various mineral size-fractions In the
Mount Isa plant rougher section. The relationship between percentage of water
remaining and compartment number Is also shown
. .
352 APRIL 1974 JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY
 1O0r .- .......
. "
."'" "'.
<1:
z
./
~
<1:
~
80
./
CL
0

>-
et:
W
6
u
W
60
./
et:
;;'< .
40
10
. Characteristic. of I
ntralnment. I

~
I
:
Characteristic of
air bubble attachment.
w
'=
~
8
.~ :

L
er: i
'",
<1:
L
CL
0
.'\
>-
et:
6
.
u
'JJ
0>
W
et:
\.
;;'< 4

\.
2
5

w 3
:::>
~

.~.
z
<1:
~
CL
0

~
w
0>
2

~.
u
W
et: "'.
;;'<
""
.\.
01 2 3 5 10 20 50 2nn
PARTICLE SIZE IN MICROMETRES.

Fig. 3-The relationship between recovery after six rougher compartments and
particle size for galena. marmatlte. and non-sulphide gangue. NBHC lead rougher
bank

JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY APRIL 1974 353
in this discussion the term non- importance of the water-entrain- or
sulphide gangue will refer to these ment mechanism for non-sulphide OFt = (RRFGt/ RR W)/(MFGU WPt)
particles. Most published models gangue. The relationship between . . . . . . . . (1)
for gangue recovery have used semi- the recovery rates of water and non- for the ith size fraction.
empirical models that are identical sulphide gangue for some operating This can be rewritten and summed
to the published semi-empirical plants is shown in Fig. 5. over n size-fractions to give the
models for valuables. A low value There is also evidence that hy- equation
for the first-order rate constant was draulic classification occurs in the n
assumed. Jowett8 proposed a differ- entrained pulp in the froth column, RRFG=RRW. LOFt.
ent type of model for gangue, which and this is illustrated in Fig. 6,
i= 1
assumed that mechanical entrap- which shows what may be regarded
MFGUWPt. .. (2)
ment is the major mechanism for the as the classification function for
recovery of gangue. particles of non-sulphide gangue in *io the ith size-fraction.
This hypothesis was investigated different ores. It is probable that the In equation (2), the quantity
in JKMRC pilot-plant tests. Pure particles in region A are pre- (MFGUWPt) is determined by the
silica slurry was continuously floated dominantly free and those in region pulp density and sizing of the
with frother only at different pulp B are predominantly composite. gangue in the compartments of a
densities and at varying water The small particles enter the con- rougher/scavenger section. For each
recovery rates. The relationship be- centrate after being classified in the compartment, other variables (e.g.,
tween the recovery rates of water rising column of entrained water in pulp level, air-addition rate, and
and silica is shown in Fig. 4. This the froth, and their behaviour can frother addition) determine the
figure gives strong support to the be described by a classification water recovery rate (RRW) in equa-
matrix that can be written tion (2). From the collected results
(Recovery rate of free gangue" /Recovery rate of water) it has been noted that values in the
Concentrate classification matrix (OFt) for a
OFt-
(Mass of free gangue*/Unit mass of water) particular type of free gangue are
Pulp constant over a normal range of
water recovery rates. Typical values
Pulp Density are listed in Table Ill. The values
in the classification matrix effect-
+ 42,0 % solid~ ively express the efficiency of the
water in transporting the various
0 35,5 % solids size-fractions of free non-sulphide
0 24,0 % solids gangue from the pulp, through the
. froth column, and into the concen-
17.0 % solids trate.
,0
c
0- + 0 Equation (2) can be modified to
E 100
-
..9
/+ / ~ 0
give an important alternative form:
RRFGt=RRW . OFt. MFGUWPt.
(3)
RRW . OFt.
w
r- +~c -
MW AT
MFGt
. . . (4)
a::
>-
a:: 50
w
>
0
!
+tf 0/
~Ol
/0
0

0 /
0/
0

./
.
8/8

"
=kt . MFGt.
Equation
itional first-order rate equation for
the flotation process. However, if a
rougher/scavenger bank is con-
(5)
(5) is simply the trad-

0
. ,/'
U
w
a::
/0
+00
+0
/0
/ /'
/
sidered, the value of the rate constant
for the ith size-fraction of gangue
can be evaluated for each compart-
/0' /0 /- ment from the quantities (RRW),
u /tP' gO ,.-/ .-.
+0/
(MW AT), and (OFt). It is important
to note that the recovery rate of
.--J 0 rrO ......... water is related to the physical
tf) R6 "'iII"" variables in all operations and may
00 500 1000 change down a bank. This is the
reason why a conventional rate
WATER RECOVERY RATE (g/min) equation to describe gangue be-
Fig. 4-Relationship between the recovery rates of silica and water at varying pulp haviour must be treated with care.
densities in a pilot-scale machine This discussion has been confined

354 APRIL .1974 JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY
 TABLE III
TYPICAL VALUES IN THE CLASSIFICATION MATRIX }'OR SILICEOUS GANGUE

Size-fraction (microns) -420 -300 -210 -150 -75 -44 -33 -23 -16 -11
+420 +300 +210 +150 +75 +44 +33 +23 +16 +11
Va]ue in classification 0 0 0 0 0 ,03 ,04 ,11 ,24 ,44 ,83
matrix (CFi)

to particles that do not adsorb Sulphide Valuables have used a discrete approximation
collector in sufficient quantities to The flotation of valuable sul- to the form of the continuous dis-
make them partially floatable. Some phides is essentially a rate process. tribution:
particles of non-sulphide gangue do Wood burn and Lovedayi7, Harris FCR=</J-ks~(l-</J)e-kft.
float by adhesion to air bubbles, and and Chakravartii8, and others have
the classification function is in- This approximation can be il-
proposed semi-empirical models
adequate to describe their behaviour. lustrated by reference to Fig. 2, in
using a continuous distribution of which it will be noted that each size-
These should really be treated in the flotation properties. Thp, equation
same manner as the sulphide part- fraction of chalcopyrite can be re-
that describes the process for a garded as containing fast- and
icles, but the problem of identifying particular mineral in a single batch
these particles and describing them slow-floating fractions, the major
compartment is
quantitatively has not yet been difference between the size-fractions
00 being the proportion of the fraction
solved.
The importance of entrainment is M =M 0 J0 -kt
e f (k,O) dk .. (6) that is slow floating. Kelsall de-
scribed this behaviour for a copper
implicitly recognized by flotation
operators who vary pulp depths an.d
and in a continuous compartment is ore in 1961, and it has since been
air additions to cells as part of their .00 00 found that the same comment can
-kt
normal operating routine. It is im-
portant that it should be explicitly
M =M 0
J
0
J 0
e E(t) f (k,O) dt dk. be made about the valuable minerals
in many ores. Thus, the three para-
recognized in simulation models and . . . . . . . . . . . . . (7) meters that describe the behaviour
control systems, and, for this pur- The problem in using these equa- of the valuable mineral on a size-by-
pose, data on the flotation rate of tions, which are first-order and size basis are as follows:
(1) the flotation rate constant of
water as well as the mineral species recognize the existence within a
must be collected. It seems reason- valuable component of species having the fast-floating fraction in each
able to suggest that this mechanism different flotation properties, is to fraction (kf),
(2) the flotation rate constant of
is just as important with oxide determine the form of the continuous
flotation as with sulphide flotation, the slow-floating fraction in each
distribution of rate constants.
but data for testing the hypothesis Other authors (for example fraction (ks), and
are not available. (3) the proportion of the slow-
Imaizumi and InoueI9, Kelsalli3)
floating fraction /J).
TABLE IV The approximation that each sul-
COMPARISON OF OBSERVED AND PREDICTED VALUES OF PERCENTAGE RECOVERY FOR
VALUABLES IN THE PHILEX ROUGHER/SCAVENGER SECTION phide mineral exists in the ore
wholly as fast- and slow-floating
Rougher First Second Third
components can be demonstrated
scavenger scavenger scavenger with respect to the Philex ore. Four
-- surveys were carried out on the
Survey 10-12-70
Observed 77,5 84,] 86,2 86,9 rougher/scavenger banks and, for
Predicted 78,9 83,3 85,5 86,9 each survey, the rate constants of
Survey 12-]2-70
the fast- and slow-floating fractions,
Observed 84,3 87,.5 88,6 89,0 and the proportion of slow-floating,
Predicted 83,0 86,9 88,8 90,0 were calculated from the following
Survey 17-12-70 equation:
Observed 83,4 87,2 88,8 89,5 Recovery rate of chalcopyrite
Predicted 82,7 86,5 88,5 89,6 from a compartment
Survey 22-12- 70 =kfMf+ksMs.
Observed 80,8 86,1 87,9 88,3 The results, and a comparison be-
Predicted 81,5 85,4 87,5 88,8 tween the observed and calculated
results for each survey, are given in
High rate constant Low rat~ constant Proportion of Table IV.
(min-I) (mm-I) mineral with
The value of using this simple
I

low rate constant

I approximation in simulating ~he
Survey 10-12.70 . . 1,33 0,025 0,220 behaviour of the valuable sulphide
12-]2-70 1,33 0,025 0,]85
17.12-70 1,33 0,025
minerals is evident.
0,180
22-12-70 . . 1,33 0,025 0,200 Further results have shown that
I
the recovery rate of water also in-

JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY APRIL 1974 .
 n
RRW
D Mt. Iso rougher section. RRV =(k'f+
MWAT
.
14 . Mt. Lye!! rougher section. x i~l
0 Philex rougher-scavenger D
CFi .X;}Mf+(k~+ :;~T
12 section. D
D
n
w x Peko rougher-scavenger
D
D
.L CF'i . Yi)Ms,
=> section. i= 1
<..9 D . . . (ll)
Z 10 Nth. B H rougher
x
1:1.
D where Yi=proportion of slow-
<..9 section. D
floating valuable in the
ith size fraction.
8 + N B H C rougher D This is the proposed model for the
LL recovery of sulphide minerals. It
0 section. D incorporates the recovery rate of
water, which has been observed to
>- 6 X D
affect the rate of recovery of val-
0::: uables. Experimental studies of the
W effect of entrainment on the rates of
> flotation are to be carried out. The
0
u 4 1:1.
elements of the classification matrices
W 1:1.4:x
will be determined in a series of
0::: steady-state pilot-scale tests.
1:1. It is clear that the method of

0~ 2 0 1:1.+ + representing a comminuted sulphide

mineral in terms of fast- and slow-
o~+ floating fractions is a considerable
simplification of the real case. De-
spite this, the approximation gives a
00 5 10 15 20 25 30 model that is simple and that ac-
curately describes the behaviour of
% the valuable sulphides in several
RECOVERY OF WATER different ores, and it appears to be of
Fig. 5-Relationship between recovery rates of non-sulphide gangue and water in general use.
several chalcopyrite and galena flotation processes
Sulphide Gangue
fluences the recovery rate of sulphide anism can be described by a modi- The behaviour of gangue sul-
particles, and that the recovery of fied form of equation (4): phides has been observed to be
each sulphide mineral should be Recovery rate of fast floating similar to that of valuable sulphides,
described by the equation valuable of size i by entrain- but the rates of flotation are lower.
Recovery rate of mineral from a ment The rate of recovery of water has a
larger proportional influence on the
compartment (RRV) RRW
- . CFi . Xi . Mf, rate of recovery of gangue sulphides
MW AT than of valuable sulphides. This can
= (k 'f+ kfw)Mf+ (k' s+ks w)M s.
(9)
. . . (8) be explained by the greater im-
where Xi=proportion of fast- portance of the water-entrainment
The rate constants k'f and k's are the
floating valuable in recovery mechanism for gangue sul-
more basic rate constants, depend-
the ith size fraction. phides.
ent on the chemical environment
Over 11size fractions,
and obtained at a minimum water Summary
Recovery rate of fast-floating
recovery rate. The rate constants Some of the features common to
valuable by entrainment
kfw and ksw describe the con- sulphide flotation processes are as
tribution of the water-entrainment n follows.
RRW
mechanism, which depends on the =Mf' . (a) The valuable sulphides can be
MW AT
recovery rate of water controlled by i~l regarded as containing fast-
the physical operation of the cell, CFi. Xi floating and slow-floating frac-
i.e., froth depth, air addition, and tions, and the total rate of flo-
frother addition. =Mf.kfw. (10) tation is a function of the
The effect of varying water By substitution of the values of behaviour of these fractions and
recovery rate on the recovery of a kfw and a similarly derived ksw in the rate at which water is re-
valuable by the entrainment mech- equation (8), covered.

;856 APRIL1974 JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY
 (d) The free particles of non-
0.. sulphide, siliceous gangue enter
:J the concentrate by an entrain-
0..
ment mechanism, and a hy-
'w I
draulic classification mech-
:)0:: anism operates while they are
<..9W retained in the froth. Their
8 J KM R C pilot plant. Silica
z~ recovery rates can be related to
3
<..9
pulp. 33,5
% solids. the recovery rate of water.
LLLL 1,0 x Philex Mining Corporation. CONTROL OF SULPHIDE
00
Rougher section. FLOTATION PROCESSES
tf)(f) 0,9
tf)tf) \ 0 Mount Iso Alternative control objectives can
Mines Limited.

LL 0,8 fJ
Rougher section.
be constant concentrate
maximum mineral recovery, maxi-
grade at

I
0,7 \
I

0 NBHC Limited. mum grade at constant recovery,

maximum throughput at some re-
0\
~0,6 A Rougher section. quired grade and recovery, optimi-
zation of reagent usage, economic

0,5 t optimization of circuit performance,
u x or some combination of these. The
I Ol. 0\
I primary function of the control
W 0:: ~ scheme is to detect a disturbance and
:J 0,3
~
o_~ B
to alter the control variables to
<..9 \~ 0
~ 02
Z maintain the control objectives.
-8-0 Reagent additions are frequently
~ XJ
<..9 0,1 : ><0 used as control variables, and the
LL
8 level of control varies from manual
LLO \ 0
(f)
0 adjustment to digital control such
(f)(f) 0 40 80 120 160 200 as is used at 240
the Ecstall concen-
(f) trator (Amsden et al.2O).
L NON-SULPHIDE GANGUE Disturbances to the process may
L include changes in feed grade or ore
I PARTICLE SIZE (microns) type. If the disturbance is a change
only in feed grade, a change in
Fig. 6--Relationship between the classification function, which describes hydraulic reagent addition may be sufficient to
classification in the entrained pulp in the froth column, and particle size for gangue
in several sulphide rougher sections allow for the altered mass of sul-
phide in the pulp. Changes may also
(b) The gangue sulphides behave slow-floating fractions may also be necessary in the physical vari-
in a similar manner to the contain some liberated particles, ables if the correct flowrates of
valuable sulphides, except that particularly in the very fine concentrates are to be maintained,
the flotation rate constants are fractions. particularly where there is a heavy
markedly reduced.
(c) The composite particles appear
to behave as slow-floating sul-
4 CELL
12 CE LL
phide particles, although the TAILING TAILING
100
FEED
BO
---= = =:. -::. -=
:
- Valuable
""'ph.de

~
GO
~
J
~ 40 4 CELL
:
~,. CONCENTRATE
'"

-'
. XRF Analysis (%
Cu, 0;0 Fe, % Solids.)
COLLECTOR ADDITION

Fig.
0 Mag netic Flowmeter.
7- The typical responses of valu-
able and gangue sulphide recoveries to
collector addition Fig. 8--lnstrumentation on the test rougher bank at Mount Isa

JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY APRIL 1974 357
 Compartment No. regian an the curve far valuable chemical enviranment. Since this
E
u sulphides. A scheme far the manitar- wark canfirmed the impartance .of
~ 12 ing .of circuit feed and .of cancentrate the entrainment mechanism, it will
~ .0 6 and tailing assays, and far the be discussed here in mare detail.
~ i116 x 5- 8
offi + 1
systematic variatian .of reagents in a
COt- search far the .optimum grade- Experimental Systems
~12 x +

I/
recavery paint has been imple- The testwark was canducted in
~ ~ 8
~q.- .
Q x
)
+
mented successfully at the Ecstall
cancentratar20, This was a majar
the Na. 1 capper cancentratar
Maunt Isa during the
at
periad
~ ~x/x 4
+
,/ advance in the evalutian .of cantrol
schemes.
December 1972 ta April 1973, and
5? ~ alsa in the lead-zinc cancentratar at
LL
0
0
-
2 4
6 8 10 12 14 16 1820 In .other plant testwark, the NBHC at Broken Hill during the
cantrol .of the physical variables has periad February ta May 1973. The
% COPPER
been faund ta be necessary ta chalcapyrite flatatian circuit in the
Fig. 9 - Relationship between copper minimize the water recavery rate, Na. 1 cancentratar at Maunt Isa
assays and height above the froth-pulp
interface for concentrate from various which affects the recaveries .of sul- included six .open-circuit Fagergren
points in Mount Isa rougher bank phide and nan-sulphide gangues by banks in parallel. One bank was set
flaw. Assays .of the feed. and bank the entrainment mechanism up far the test pragramme with the
tailing may be sufficient in this case (Tharne12 and Lynch21). It was instrumentatian shawn in Fig 8. A
far carrective actian. If, an the .other shawn that it is passible ta vary the Hewlett Packard 2100A digital cam-
hand, the disturbance is a change in grade-recavery curve far a particular puter was used far data callectian
are type, it is likely that a different mineral by manipulatian .of the and pracessing an-line. It was nat
chemical enviranment is necessary variables that cantral .only the frath passible ta vary the air additian ta
ta give best flatatian perfarmance. In behaviaur, withaut alteratian .of the the cells, but the frath behaviaur
the semi-empirical madel, the pro-
partian .of slaw-flaating mineral (cp) r
W +-.
must be altered. A feed and tailing 0 22
assay is nat sufficient ta allaw <l:
carrective actian. It has been faund 0::
(9
in plant tests (Lynch21) that the
first few cells in a bank suitably w 20
equipped with sensing instruments >
can be used as an an-line detectar .of
changes in are flaatability, i.e., are ~-.J
type. ::) 18
2:
Importance of Chemical and Physical ::)
Control Variables u
Ta effectively cantral a sulphide 16 .
flatatian pracess, bath the physical \.. --.J
and chemical variables shauld be 90 91 92 93 94 95
incarparated in the cantral scheme.
The chemical variables are mast use- a/a RECOVERY
ful far altering the rate .of recavery
.of particles by the selective-attach- w
ment mechanism. Mast flatatian ~300 .
cantral schemes use reagents as the 0:: -c
cantral variables; far example, Ecs-
tall,~NBHC (Presgrave22), Lake Du-
fault (Smith and
Lewis24), and Tennessee
Lewis23 and
Capper's
ffi
>
o..Y
0)
~~OO
L"/+
/ \
\
'!
Landan mill (Faulkner25).
.of the chemical enviranment
Cantrol
is an [cl
--- 100 ~+
essential part .of any cantral scheme. 0:: ....
The typical respanse .of sulphide
mineral recavery ta a change in
0::
W
callectar cancentratian is shawn in 00 ~4 8 12 16
Fig. 7. In many cantral schemes, an
attempt is made ta minimize reagent ~CELL NUMBER
cansumptian and maximize can-
centrate grade by .operating as clase Fig. IQ-The influence of change in water recovery rate on the copper grade-
as passible ta the edge .of the plateau recovery curve, Mount Isa rougher bank

358 APRIL 1974 JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY
 that the water recovery can be
.8 NB HC Lead rougher. t:,. controlled to optimize grade.
First six compartments. / CONCLUSIONS
7 Froth Depth (cm.) /+ The observed behaviour
minerals in sulphide flotation pro-
of

" 10,8 /! cesses has been described. Models

er::
w 5
f-
6 +
.
x
12,1
14,0

;~:z
;)+
~
, /
0/
that recognize the importance
the water-entrainment mechanism
have been discussed. Plant testwork
has shown that it is possible to
optimize the grade-recovery curve by
of

careful control of the water recovery

/0 rate, and that control of the water
~ 0
recovery rate should be an integral
4 part of a flotation control system.
LL
0 / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

>-
er::
w
3 / .
This
financially
work
by Mount
was supported
Isa Mines
Limited and the Australian Mineral
>
8 2 l/O kx Industries
The assistance
Research Association.
given by the com-
w
er:: /0 ~~~ panies mentioned in the paper
while the work was being carried out

~
0 1
~
y ~ ~ ~
:::::-----
is gratefully acknowledged.

NOMENCLA TURE
~/ OFi the ith element of the
classification matrix de-
00 1 2 3 4 5 6 scribing the hydraulic classi-
fication of mineral particles
CELL NUMBER. during their passage
through the froth column
Fig. 11- The effect of change in froth depth on water recovery from the N BHC RRW recovery rate of water
rougher bank
RRFG total recovery rate of free
was changed by alteration of froth The improvement in the grade- gangue
depth. recovery curve with decreased water MW AT mass of water in a com-
In the galena flotation circuit at recovery is the result of an in- partment
NBHC, the test bank was an open- creased drainage from the froth MFGi mass of free gangue in the
flow rougher bank of Denver 21 of particles that arrived there by ith size-fraction in a com-
machines, which treated about 35 entrainment. The effect of change in partment
per cent of the total rougher feed. froth depth on the water recovery ki rate constant for the ith
The only measuring instrument on rate in the NBHC rougher bank is size-fraction of gangue
the bank was a magnetic flowmeter shown in Fig. 11, and on the select- M mass of mineral in a batch
on the feed line. In this case also, ivity of separation of galena from compartment, or flowrate
froth behaviour was changed by marmatite in Fig. 12. The improve- of a mineral in the tailing
alteration of the froth depth. ment in selectivity with increasing from a continuous com-
Steady-state Results froth depth is due to the increased partment (mass/time)
The relationship between height preferential drainage from the froth E(t) residence time distribution
above the froth-pulp interface and of that fraction of the gangue of solids (in tailings exit)
copper assay for froths from various sulphide (in this case marmatite) Mo mass of mineral initially in
points in the Mount Isa rougher which reached the froth by entrain- a batch compartment or
bank is shown in Fig. 9. This shows ment. flowrate of a mineral in the
qualitatively the importance of the feed to a continuous com-
froth as a concentrating region in On-line tests partment (mass/time)
the cell. On-line tests were carried out at k first-order rate constant for
The influence of change in water Mount Isa in which the froth depth a mineral
recovery rate, obtained by change was varied and the effect on the FOR fraction of component un-
in froth height, on the grade- concentrate grade and recovery was recovered after time t
recovery curve for the Mount Isa observed continuously. A typical Mf,Ms mass of sulphide mineral
rougher bank is shown in Fig. 10. result is shown in Fig. 13. It is clear in the pulp of a compart-

JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY APRIL 1974 359
 ment with high and low
rate constant respectively 5
NHBC Lead rougher. t:,
The other symbols used in this paper
are defined in the text.
First sixteen compartments
/
0

REFERENCES W Froth Depth (cm) 11

I-
1. WOODBURN, E. T. Mathematical '-+
I- No 1 9 16 x

i
modelling of flotation processes.
Miner. Sci. Engng, vo!. 2, no. 2. <!: ce~l
1970. pp. 3-17. :L
2. JOWETT, A., PICKLES, G., and a:
WILLIAMS, P. H. Applications of <!:
mathematical models of flotation,
Automatic control systems in mineral
:L 3
processing plants (Symposium Aust- 0 22,9 17,8 12.1
ralas. Inst. Min. Metall., Brisbane).
1971. pp. 197-209.
LL
0
f:j. 20,3 16,5 6,3
0
Ix
3. GAUDIN, A. M. Flotation. New York, 6 flQ
McGraw-Hill, 1957. Chapter 10.
>-
4. GLEMBOTSKII,V. A., KLASSEN, V. 1.,
and PLAKSIN, 1. N. Flotation. New
a: 2
York (Primary Sources). Translated w
by R. E. Hammond. 1963. Chapters >
0
n-v.
u
5. BuLL, W. R. The development of a w
method of digital computer simu-
lation of the flotation process by
a:
means of a mathematical model. 1-/X
Ph.D. thesis, University of Queens-
land, 1966.
~
6. WOODCOCK,J. T., and JONES, M. H.
Chemical environment in Australian
lead.zinc flotation plant pulps. 1. pH, I ! I
redox potentials, and oxygen con-
centrations. Proc. Australas. Inst. 00 20 !~O GO 80
Min. Metall., no. 235. 1970. pp. 45-60.
7. WOODCOCK,J. T., and JONES, M. H. '.!fo RECOVERY OF GALENA.
Chemical environment in Australian
lead-zinc flotation plant 'pulps. n.
Collector residuals, metals in solution, Fig. 12- The effect of change in froth depth on the selectivity curve describing
and other parameters. Proc. Australas. galenajmarmatite recovery in the NBHC lead rougher bank.
Inst. Min. Metall., no. 235. 1970.
pp. 61-76.
8. JOWETT, A. Gangue mineral con- Proc. Australas. Inst. Min. Metall., flotation at the Ecstall concentrator.
tamination of froth. Br. Chem. no. 220. 1967. pp. 69-78. 10th Int. Symp. on Application of
Engng., vol. 2, no. 5. 1966. pp. 330- Computer Methods in the Mineral
333. 15. KELSALL, D. F., and S"l'EWART, Industry, Johannesburg, 1972.
P. S. B. A critical review of appli-
9. JOHNSON, N. W., McKEE, D. J., and cations of models of grinding and 21. LYNCH, A. J. The operation and
LYNCH, A. J. Flotation rates of non- flotation. Automatic control systems in control of a chalcopyrite rougher
sulphide minerals in chalcopyrite mineral processing plants (Symposium flotation bank. St. Lucia (Australia),
flotation processes. A.l.M.E Annual Australas. Inst. Min. Metall., Bris- Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research
Meeting, California, February 20-24, bane). 1971. pp. 213-232. Centre, Technical Report, Jan.-Jun.
1972. 1973. pp. 1-35.
16. MORRIS, T. M. Measurement and
10. JOHNSON, N. W. The flotation be- evaluation of the rate of flotation as a
haviour of some chalcopyrite ores. function of particle size. Trans. Soc. 22. PRESGRAVE, D. K. Development of
Ph.D. thesis, University of Queens- Min. Engrs AIME, no. 187. 1952. the control system installed in The
land, 1972. pp. 91-95. New Broken Hill Consolidated Limit-
ed concentrator, Australia. Proc. 9th
11. McKEE, D. J. Studies in the control Comm. Min. Met. Congr., ed. M. J.
of chalcopyrite flotation processes. 17. WOODBURN, E. T., and LoVEDAY,
B. K. Effect of variable residence Jones, London, Instn. Min. Metall.,
Ph.D. thesis, University of Queens- 1969. pp. 717-732.
land, 1972. time on the performance of a flo-
tation system. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min.
12. THoRNE, G. C. The behaviour of the Metall., vo!. 65. 1965. pp. 612-628. 23. SMITH, N. W., and LEWIS, C. L. Com-
galena flotation circuits at North puter control experiments at Lake
Broken Hill Limited and New Broken 18. HARRIs, C. C., and CHAKRAVARTI, A. Dufault. Can. Inst. Min. Bull.,
Hill Consolidated Limited. St. Lucia Semi-batch froth flotation kinetics: vo!. 62, no. 682. 1969. pp. 109-115.
(Australia), Julius Kruttschnitt Min- species distribution analysis. Trans.
eral Research Centre, Internal Re- AIME, 1970. vol. 247. pp. 162-172. 24. LEWIS, C. L. Application of a com-
ports No. 26 and 27. 1973. puter to a flotation process. Can.
19. IMAIZUMI, T., and INouE, T. Kinetic
considerations of froth flotation. Min- Inst. Min. Bull., vo!. 64, no. 705.
13. KELSALL, D. F. Application of prob- 1971. pp. 47-50.
ability in assessment of flotation eral processing, ed. A. Roberts, 6th
systems. Bull. Inst. Min. Metall., Int. Min. Proc. Congress, Cannes,
vol. 70. 1961. pp. 191-204. 1965. pp. 581-583. 25. FAULKNER, B. P. Computer control
improves metallurgy at Tennessee
14. BuLL, W. R. The rates of flotation of 20. AMSDEN, M. P., CHAPMAN, C., and Copper's flotation plant. Min. Engng,
mineral particles in sulphide ores. READING, M. G. Computer control of N.Y., no. 18. 1966. pp. 53-57.

360 APRIL 1974 JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY
 - -- ---

l . -.. :- ~=!
Froth Froth
Depth Depth Froth Depth 8.9 ccm
% Cu 8.9 cm 3,8 cm
3 -------------
IN FEED
". ........y". . .." .. ... Off-line ~.. .....I
- 2
% Cu-- 0,3
IN 12 CEll
... ..",.."""... ..
TAilS
- -"
.. ."" "" ""

-.------
..
% Cu
IN 4 CErl
0,6
. . ... ....'...
e.
.. - - ----
.. .
TAilS. .. .. ...
0,5
..1 .:------.---.---.-.-.._-
.. ... .. . ..... .. ...
j
0,4
. ..
C> ..
- ---
25

% Cu IN
1- 4 CEll
20 . .....
-
... ..
-~',-- - --
I..
~
..
e. 0 .
..
..
- .. ...-
-. "' ' ....... . .... ....
ROUGHER
CDNC.. 15 - - -
. .
-"O;"""~I---
I

- - - - - -- - - - -- - - ----

A
10
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
TIME I~~ HOURS.

Fig. 13-Results from the No. 5 copper rougher bank, Mount Isa. to demonstrate
the effect of change in froth depth on the process.

Book review
Ramsey, Robert H. Men and initial capital of $8 million, would cott and Texas Gulf Sulphur in
mines of Newmont. A fifty year be a trading vehicle for his many Canada; O'Okiep, Tsumeb, and Pala-
history. New York, Octagon Books, promotions. It has since (1971) be- bora in South Africa; elsewhere, to
1973. $11.00. eome a eompany with a market value D.S.A. companies like Homestake,
It is interesting to consider how of $950 million spread over 24 Hanna, etc., through the association
one man can influence a develop- million ordinary shares. of one-time Newmont personnel
ment by courage, luck, and perse- The other chief executives who (e.g., John Gustafson). This indi-
verance. This is largely the story of largely helped towards this achieve- cates a spirit of co-operation on a
how Colonel WaIter Boyce Thomp- ment were Charles F. Ayer (a lawyer), global scale that has paid handsome
son and his later associates, dating Fred Searls (a metallurgist), Plato dividends.
from the year 1921, founded a Malozemoff (a financier), and Marcus All are mentioned in a skilfully
mining and finance empire; a pre- D. Banghart (a mining engineer, who woven tale of success and failures by
vious company started in 1916 spent some time in Southern Africa). the author, who was a Metallurgical
apparently gave him the experience Newmont's largest project is per- Consultant to Newmont and is now
to go on to bigger things despite haps San-Manuel-Magma Copper a member of the staff in New York.
earlier set-backs. Hence, he en- Mine in Arizona. It also has access
visaged that Newmont, with an to many others: inter alia, Kenne- J.T.M.

JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY APRIL 1974 361
NIM Reports
The following reports are avail-
able free of charge from the Nat-
ional Institute for Metallurgy, Priv-
ate Bag 7, Auckland Park 2006.
Report No. 1567
Estimation of the parameters in the
distributed-constant flotation model.
A complete system is developed
for the estimation, from batch or
continuous data, of the parameters
in the distributed-constant flotation
model. Various hypotheses concern-
ing the model are tested, and a
description is given of a method by
which a particular slurry can be
adequately and significantly charac-
terized from available data.
The model can predict total re-
covery as a function of residence
time, but is not able to predict the
particle-size distribution of the con-
centrate. The incorporation of a
simple model for froth behaviour
Company affiliates
The following members have been
admitted to the Institute as Com-
pany Affiliates.
AE & Cl Limited.
AfroxjDowson and Dobson Limited.
Amalgamated Collieries of S.A. Limit-
ed.
Apex Mines Limited.
Associated Manganese Mines of S.A.
Limited.
Blackwood Hodge (S.A.) Limited.
Blyvooruitzicht G.M. Co. Ltd.
Boart & Hard Metal Prod ucts S.A.
Limited.
Bracken Mines Limited.
Buffelsfontein G.M. Co. Limited.
Cape Asbestos South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
Compair SA (Pty) Limited.
Consolidated Murchison (Tvl) Gold-
fields & Development Co. Limited.
Doornfontein G.M. Co. Limited.
Durban Roodepoort Deep Limited.
East Driefontein G.M. Co. Limited.
East Rand Prop. Mines Limited.
Free State SaaiplaasG.M. Co. Limited.
Fraser & Chalmers S.A. (Pty) Limited.
Gardner-Denver Co. Africa (Pty) Ltd.
Goldfields of SA Limited.
The Grootvlei (Pty) Mines Limited.
362 APRIL 1974
results in it marked improvement in
this respect.
Report No. 1591
The inductive measurement of con-
ductivity in slags.
An investigation of the use of the
inductive-loop method for the de-
termination of conductivity in slags
resulted in the design of several
instruments. The development of
the different systems is described,
and the advantages and disad-
vantages of the various types of
instruments are discussed.
Report No. 1609
An interlaboratory analysis of two
ferrochromium slags.
This report describes the analyses,
by ten different laboratories, of two
slags, one associated with the pro-
duction of high-carbon ferrochrom-
ium, and the other with the pro-
duction of ferrochromium-silicide.
The results, their statistical treat-
Harmony Gold Mining Co. Limited.
Hartebeesfontein G.M. Co. Limited.
Hewitt-Robins-Denver (Pty) Limited.
Highveld Steel and Vanadium Corpo-
ration Limited.
Hudemmco (Pty) Limited.
Impala Platinum Limited.
Ingersoll Rand Co. SA (Pty) Ltd.
James Sydney & Company (Pty)
Limited.
Kinross Mines Limited.
Kloof Gold Mining Co. Limited.
Lennings Holdings Limited.
Leslie G.M. Limited.
Libanon G.M. Co. Limited.
Lonrho S.A. Limited.
Loraine Gold Mines Limited.
Marievale Consolidated Mines Limit-
ed.
Matte Smelters (Pty) Limited.
Northern Lime Co. Limited.
O'okiep Copper Company Limited.
Palabora Mining Co. Limited.
Placer Development S.A. (Pty) Ltd.
President Stern G.M. Co. Limited.
Pretoria Portland Cement Co. limit-
ed.
Prieska Copper Mines (Pty) Limited.
Rand Mines Limited.
JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY
ment, and the methods of analysis
used are given. Preferred values are
assigned to the two samples.
Report No. 1611
The X-ray-fluorescence determi-
nation of percentage concentrations of
niobium and tantalum in ores and
minerals.
This report describes the investi-
gational work in the development of
a procedure for the determination of
tantalum and niobium in ores where
the concentration of either element
exceeds 0,5 per cent. The samples
are decomposed by the use of a flux
that incorporates two internal stand-
ards, and the technique obviates the
need for the determination of back-
grounds and corrects for matrix
effects. Calibration is achieved by
means of synthetic standards. The
precision of the method compares
well with chemical methods, and the
time required is much less.
Rooiberg Minerals Development Co.
Limited.
Rustenburg Platinum Mines Limited
(Union Section).
Rustenburg Platinum Mines Limited
(Rustenburg Section).
St. Helena Gold Mines Limited.
Shaft Sinkers (Pty) Limited.
S.A. Land Exploration Co. Limited.
Stilfontein G.M. Co. Limited.
The Griqualand Exploration and Fi-
nance Co. Limited.
The Messina (Transvaal) Develop-
meltt Co. Limited.
The Steel Engineering Co. Ltd.
Trans-Natal Coal Corporation Limit-
ed.
Tvl Cons. Land & Exploration Co.
Tsumeb Corp. Limited.
Union Corporation Limited.
Vaal Reefs Exploration & Mining Co.
Limited.
Venterspost G.M. Co. Limited.
Vergenoeg Mining Co. (Pty) Limite
Vlakfontein G.M. Co. Limited. d.
Welkom Gold Mining Co. Limited.
West Driefontein G.M. Co. Limited.
Western Deep Levels Limited.
Western Holdings Limited.
Winkelhaak Mines Limited.