RIVS Science and Production Association:

Nazarov Yu. P., Director, Production Research Department, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, e-mail: Y_Nazarov@rivs.ru

Zimin A. V., General Director, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, e-mail: rivs@rivs.ru

Erdenet Mining Corporation:

Gezegt Sh., Head of Business Development Department, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, Phone: +7(10-976-13-52)73-818

Tailings of complex ore processing plants using bulk–selective flotation chart are composed of a number of products. Metal content of final concentration tailings is comparable with the metal content of initial ore, thus, these tailings can be a resource supply for processing plants. The article describes the approach to selecting processing circuits and using their tailings as a feed for independent process stages. At such process stages, it is possible to either produce bulk concentrates for blending with some other products of a processing plant, or to arrange self-sustained production of marketable concentrates. The implementation of the approach at a copper–molybdenum ore processing plant is instantiated. The developed flow chart allows production of quality copper, molybdenum and pyrite concentrates. The authors also describe the approach to estimating processibility of tailings of process stages. It is shown that it is feasible to select some process stages in the flotation flow chart and use their tailings as a feed for independent processing. This approach is actualized in the final concentration cycle of dressing of Erdenet copper–molybdenum ore (Mongolia). The technology of production of quality marketable copper, molybdenum and pyrite concentrates has been developed.

1. Chanturiya V. A., Shadrunova I. V., Gorlova O. E. Adaptatsiya razdelitelnykh protsessov obogashcheniya po leznykh iskopaemykh k tekhnogennomu syryu: problemy i resheniya (Adaptation of separation processes of mineral concentration to technogenic raw materials: problems and solutions). 2012. No. 5.
2. Baatarkhuu Zh. Tekhnologiya obogashcheniya medno-porfirovykh rud na osnove izucheniya ikh genetiko-morfologicheskikh osobennostey (Technology of concentration of copper-porphyric ores on the basis of research of their genetic-morphological peculiarities). Erdenet, 2006.