| Show consumption of reagents used in 1 n flotation practice BY THOMAS VARLEY in april 1919 as a result of many requests received from individuals and mining companies for such information the U S bureau of mines sent to milling and ore dressing plants a questionnaire question aire asking aking for data on the tonnages ton nages treated both by gravity concentration and flotation the tonnages ton nages of concentrate produced by each system of milling and the consumption of oil acid and other reagents as well as the kinds used these returns to cover the calendar year 1919 it was hoped to issue a report by midsummer of 1920 but much delay was experienced in collecting the data some of the companies refused to give such information although most of them made prompt and complete returns however replies have now been obtained from practically all plants and the following statement has been prepared the figures presented are representative senta tive and complete enough for all practical purposes consumption of reagents for various ores the reports showed that there were 26 tons of ore of all kinds treated by flotation from which tons of concentrate cen was produced showing shoving a concentration ratio of tons into one the total of all oil acid and other reagents used was pounds equivalent to pounds per ton of ore treated of the total quantity of ore treated by tar far the greater part was copper ore tabulations for the various ores are given in detail showing a summation of all reports received gold silver ores not many reports were received from companies treating ores of gold and silver in the plants making reply there was treated tons of ore yielding tons of concentrate a concentration of into one oils used were petroleum fuel oil pounds pine tar oil pounds and turpentine pounds graphite ore the number of tons of graphite ore treated was yielding tons of concentrate a concentration of into one oils and reagents used were pine oils soda ash and time aggregating pounds in all miscellaneous ores this class includes ores of the rarer metals such as molybdenum de num and antimony and complex mixed ores of various kinds there was treated tons yielding tons of concentrates the ratio of concentration being 1262 12 62 into one oils and reagents used were sodium sulphide pounds soda ash metallurgist U S bureau of mines pounds sodium silicate pounds and pine oils pounds copper ores in tabulating the returns for copper ores all plants that were treating ores solely by gravitation methods have been excluded many companies however use a combination of gravity concentration and flotation usually flotation supplements gravity concentration although in a few plants the reverse was reported of tons of ore milled tons or per cent was treated by flotation this would indicate that per cent was discarded as tailing low enough in metal content not to warrant re grinding for further treatment although a certain small proportion would represent concentrate removed by concentration machinery the total amount of oil acid alkaline reagents and all other reagents used averaged pounds per ton of copper ore treated in the following table the total amount of each reagent used is also calculated into average number of pounds consumed per ton of ore this figure of course does not represent the average consumption in any one flotation plant but nevertheless erth eless is of interest some plants use large quantities of one reagent either oil acid or alkali whereas another plant may not use any of the reagents employed at the former plants it will also be noti noticed ced that the oils have been grouped somewhat under general headings all we special brands and makes of coal tars have been grouped thus also various brands and makes of coal tar creosote creo azote hardwood creosote pine oils pine tars etc the total amount of copper ore treated by flotation was tons producing tons of concentrate a concentration ratio of into one the following table shows the kinds and amounts of oils and reagents used for this tonnage equivalent in lbs ibs per ton pounds of ore treated coal tar coal tar c creosotes creo 1 hardwood creosote creosotes creo 1774 pine oils pine tars fuel oil sulphuric acid caustic kind not stated kerosene acid sludge ludge X coke s 0 turpentine other oils total average number of lbs ibs of oils and other reagents used per ton toll of ore treated lead and lead silver ores the tonnage of lead and lead silver ores treated by flotation is considerably less than that of copper ores this may be due to the fact that in the former the values are r more segregated than in copper ores in which the mineral constituents are generally finely disseminated generally flotation supplements gravity concentration and a large tonnage of material or tailing low in metal content can be discarded this is especially true in the southeast missouri lead district the returns show that the total quantity of these types of ores treated by combined gravity and flotation methods was tons only tons or 2478 per cent of the total tonnage reported was treated by flotation this tons retreated by flotation produced tons of concentrates a concentration ratio of 1133 into one A list showing the oils and other reagents used for treating this tonnage and the amounts consumed follows E equivalent qui valent in lbs ibs per ton pounds of ore treated coal tars 1943 coal tar creosotes creo hardwood creosotes creo pine oils 1324 pine tars wood tars crude petroleum 1905 sodium sulphide acid sulphuric acid kerosene gasoline 2934 soda ash sodium sili silicate ie niter coke other reagents total average quantity of oils reagents reagent s used per ton of ore treated by notation flotation zinc ores the reports show that 2917 tons if 0 f zinc ore was treated by combined gravity concentration and flotation while 1 tons or per cent of the total tonnage was treated by flotation alone this yielded tons of concentrate a concentration cent ration ratio of tons into one the oils and reagents and the amounts of each used for this tonnage follows equivalent in lbs ibs per ton pounds of ore treated coal tar creosotes creo hardwood creosotes creo copper sulphate pine oils crude oils other oils and reagents average e qu quantity of oils and reagents used per ton of ore treated general remarks the most generally used agents for copper ores are sulphuric acid kerosene acid sludge and the coal tars for lead and lead silver ores hardwood creosote is used the most followed by coal tars crude petroleum and pine oils in the order named most important for zinc ores are the pine oils which constitute per cent of the total quantity of oils used for this ore with copper sulphate and hardwood creosote next in importance |
