A Graphical Method For Evaluating Selective Flotation Tests

Tar evaluation of data obtained by selective flotation from even a simple ore is a very difficult process, and when the ore tested is complex the process becomes extremely difficult and cumbersome The authors, in the course of an investigation into the selective behavior of various flotation reagents on nonmetallic minerals§ were confronted with an aggravated form of this difficulty, owing to the large mass of data that had accumulated over a period of years They finally devised a method whereby the results of the various flotation tests could be correlated and interpreted by means of graphs representing recoveries and rejections of the component minerals in the ore This method of graphical analysis proved so useful in nonmetallic flotation that it was afterwards applied to sulphide flotation, where it yielded equally satisfactory results Since this method of analysis leads to very definite conclusions as to the effect of changes in reagents and flotation procedure, it is felt that a wider application of the method might assist the industry by reducing the amount of test work required, and possibly increase the accuracy of the final analysis GRAPHS In Fig I, four curves are plotted on the same graph with cumulative percentages as ordinates and cumulative weights as abscissas In this instance the four curves are named, respectively the barite-recovery curve, the limestone-rejection curve, the silica-rejection curve, and the summation curve In these tests barite was the mineral concentrated, therefore a barite concentrate was produced Definitions Before explaining the curves in detail it might be advisable to define several new terms, such as "percentage rejection," "summation index," and "summation curve," as well as the word "test," which has been used in a special sense. A "test" will include all the operations performed upon a batch of ore from the time it is placed in the rod mill until the last product has been assayed Thus a test may be a comparatively simple procedure producing only one concentrate and a tailing, or it may be a very complicated procedure producing five or more concentrates of a specific mineral as well as a tailing The number of concentrates produced will depend entirely upon whether the collector was added to the pulp in the flotation cell in one lot or was added in five or more portions Percentage Rejection-The ability of a selective flotation collector to reject an undesired mineral is just as important as its ability to collect the desired mineral The percentage rejection curves shown on the graphs give this factor due consideration and its value is calculated as follows Suppose a concentrate contains 5 per cent of an undesired mineral This indicates