COLLECTORS AND FROTH FLOTATION PROCESSES FOR METAL SULFIDE ORES

摘要

Collector compositions for use in froth flotation processes for the beneficiation of mineral values from base metal sulfide ores comprise at least one hydrocarboxycarbonyl thionocarbamate or thiourea compound selected from compounds of the formulas: R<1>, R<2> and R<3> being specified. The processes include the use of the collectors which at pH values below 10.0 exhibit unexpectedly high collector activity for base metal sulfide minerals such as copper, lead and zinc and selectively rejects gangue sulfide minerals, such as pyrite and pyrrhotite. The collectors and processes provide excellent metallurgical recoveries of copper sulfide mineral values of high grade at a substantial reduction in lime consumption and reagents costs associated with prior art flotation separation methods. Bulk sulfide flotation methods are also disclosed.