Dressability of Old Gold-Bearing Tailings by Flotation

Abstract

The research results on floatability of old gold-bearing tailings are presented. The complex material composition and process features of processing waste are governed by difference in treatment of various ore types (sulfide, oxidized and mixed) at processing plant, as well as with supergene processes in the tailings pond. Feasibility of re-flotation of tailings is discussed. It is found that short-term mechanical activation of tailings in a mill with the subsequent flotation (at the adjusted reagent mode as against the current technology) results in gold recovery of 29.0 to 45.4% in flotation concentrate at the residue content of metal in rejects at the level of 0.2–0.3 g/t.