The impact of SAG pebbles as media vs steel media on flotation performance of a copper sulphide ore

Copper sulfides mostly occur in minerals such as chalcopyrite, chalcocite, and bornite. Copper extraction requires liberation of these minerals from the host rock by fine grinding, during which rapid oxidation could alter their surface characteristics, thereby affecting their flotation behaviour. The ?20?+?10?mm fraction pebbles are compared with steel balls as media for grinding of a copper concentrate in a vertical stirred mill, which obtained from a 7.0 m diameter?×?3.5 m SAG mill at Jiangxi Copper Corporation, China. The surface characteristics of the products obtained using SAG mill pebbles and steel balls as grinding media were studied by zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Their flotation performances were also contrasted, the grade and recovery of concentrate are 20.45% and 62.38% with pebbles media while the grade and recovery of concentrate are 22.05% and 54.93% with steel ball media, the grade and recovery of tailing are 0.39% and 16.01% with pebbles media while the grade and recovery of tailing are 0.40% and 16.16%, the pebbles have the lower grade, the higher recovery and metal production rate. Test results indicated that the type of grinding media can significantly affect the surface characteristics of particles and their subsequent flotation performance. The use of pebbles as the grinding medium in a vertical stirred mill proved more selective, less corrosive, used less flocculent, and gave higher recovery of the valuable mineral than steel balls.