Mining Institute of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Apatity, Murmansk region, Russia):

Mukhina T. N., Sector Head, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, muhina@goi.kolasc.net.ru
Marchevskaya V. V., Leading Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, Associate Professor, vvm@goi.kolasc.net.ru

The low-sulfide precious metal mineralization of the Fedorov-Pana stratified ultramafic-mafic intrusion and of the Monchegorsk pluton of the Kola Peninsula is spatially and genetically associated with sulfide copper-nickel mineralization. Grains of platinum metals are segregated at the boundary of sulfide mineralization areas and at the interfaces between sulphides and silicates and are isomorphically dispersed in sulphides, mainly in pentlandite. Most precious metal minerals have the grain size of less than 25 μm. The article covers the results of studies on the selection of optimal flotation concentration conditions for fine-grained low-sulfide platinum-metal ores of the three deposits. The nature of impregnation of sulphides and precious metal minerals predetermines the fine grinding of the low-sulfide ores. The flotation kinetics is studied for such low-sulfide platinumbearing ores with the use of traditional (basic) reagents for coppernickel ores and with the application of a new reagent regime with a mixture of sulfhydryl collectors and a sodium-butyl aeroflot. It is established that the use of a mixture of sulfhydryl collectors allows reducing the duration of the flotation process required for achieving the maximum flotation efficiency. The increase in the recovery of precious metals (Pt, Pd, Au) into the concentrate in the study amounted to 2–8 %.

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