Experimental research on combined flotation-metallurgical process of oxygen-sulfur-mixed copper-molybdenum ores

A oxygen-sulfur-mixed copper-molybdenum mine in yunnan contains copper 0.328% and 0.275% molybdenum,and the oxide rate of molybdenum was 48%.The results of test indicate that selective bulk flotation of sulfide copper-molybdenum ore and then separation of copper and molybdenum mixed concentrate results in copper concentrate containing 21.10% copper and molybdenum concentrate containing 47.50% molybdenum.After mixing pulp with sodium carbonate and activation,tailings from bulk flotation is then floated and molybdenum recovery can reach 42.09%,while molybdenum rate is only 0.526%.The floated rough molybdenum oxide concentrate is then heating leached with sodium carbonate,with a leaching rate of 88.22% and the leaching liquid can be further produced into industrial used calcium molybdate.With this combined flotation-metallurgical process,copper recovery can reach 70.13%,and total molybdenum recovery can reach 76.86%.This recommended process is an effective way in recycling the oxygen-sulfurmixed copper-molybdenum ores with good profit prospect.