MM320 Tutorial-6 Solution

Problem-1: PbS ore studied during liberation problem (Tutorial-2) [10% PbS, S=7600Kg/m3; 90%
gangue S=2650kg/m3] is floated in a bank of flotation cells.
Liberation studies (on Basis=100t) had yielded following results:
1. Amount of liberated PbS particles (@PbS grade = 100%)= 6.414t
2. Amount of locked PbS particles (@PbS grade = 64.7%) = 5.5425t
3. Amount of liberated -38m gangue = 29.05t
Compute the cumulative grade-recovery characteristics of the concentrate along the bank? From the
perspective of ‘flotation rate’, ore has three distinct type of particles, namely-
1. Fast floating (Liberated PbS) having probability of flotation, p =0.5
2. Slow floating (Locked PbS) having probability of flotation, p =0.1
3. -38mm liberated gangue having probability of flotation, p= 0.03
4. Liberated +38m gangue has probability of flotation = 0
Solution:
Basis: 100t of feed (i.e. 10t of PbS, 90t gangue)
The quantity floated at each stage can be calculated by the equation, m = mi (1-p)n.
For stage-1;
 Mass of liberated PbS floated = [1-(1-p)1]mi = (1-(1-0.5)1 x 6.414 = 3.21t
 Mass of locked PbS floated== (1-(1-0.1)1 x (5.5425x0.647)= 0.3586t
 Recovery = 100x(3.21+0.3586)/10 =35.7%
 Since locked particles average 64.7% PbS, (and these float at p=0.1), mass of locked gangue
floated = [1-(1-0.1)1]x[5.5425x(1-0.647)] = 0.196t or (= 0.3586x(1-0.647)/0.647=0.196t)
 Mass of liberated -38mm gangue floated = (1-(1-0.03)1)x29.05 = 0.872t
 Total gangue floated=0.196+0.872=1.07t
 Therefore grade of PbS floated = 100x3.57/(3.57+1.07)=77%PbS

For Stage-2:
 Mass of liberated PbS floated = [1-(1-p)2]m = (1-(1-0.5)2 x 6.414 = 4.81t
 Mass of locked PbS floated== (1-(1-0.1)2 x (5.5425x0.647)= 0.681t
 Recovery = 100x(4.81+0.681)/10 =54.9%
 Mass of locked gangue floated:
= 0.681 x (1-0.647)/0.647=0.372t
 Mass of liberated -38mm gangue floated = (1-(1-0.03)2)x29.05 = 1.717t
 Total gangue floated=1.717+0.372=2.089t
 Therefore grade of PbS floated = 100x3.57/(3.57+1.07)=77%PbS
 Grade of PbS floated = 100x5.49/(5.49 + 2.089)=72.4%PbS

For stage-n:
 Mass of liberated PbS floated = [1-(1-0.5)n]x6.414
 Mass of locked PbS floated = [1-(1-0.1)n]x(5.5425x0.647)
 Mass of liberated -38 m gangue floated = [1-(1-0.03)n]x29.05