Increasing Efficiency of Pechenga Rebellious Copper-Nickel Sulphide Ore Flotation

Abstract

Results of research into low-grade rebellious copper-nickel ore are presented. The mineralogical analysis reveals features of material composition, which affect processing properties of the ore—fine primary dissemination, essential serpentinization and substitution of insets by magnetite, as well as considerable fine difficult-to-dissociate epigenetic impregnation. The main causes of insufficient nickel recovery at the accepted modes of processing are determined. With a view to increasing concentration efficiency of this ore, different milling and flotation modes are considered. Ways to improve processing performance of this-type ore are identified.