Journal article
Copper ore density separations by float/sink in a dry sand fluidised bed dense medium
GV Franks, M Firdaus, J Oshitani
International Journal of Mineral Processing | Published : 2013
Abstract
Two types of copper ore have been separated based on density by float/sink in a dry sand fluidised bed dense medium. This is the first report of dry separation of lump copper ores using a dry sand fluidised bed dense medium. The separation point density and the separation efficiency, characterised by the probable error, can be controlled by changing the amount of different density sand particles in the medium mixture and the fluidisation air velocity. It has been shown that separation point densities between about 2200 and 3700 kg/m 3 with probable errors typically in the range of 0.01 to 0.06 can be obtained. Ores with particles in the size range of between about 10 and 25 mm can be treated..
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Awarded by Australian Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the Industrial Technology Research Grant Program in 2008 from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan, the Core-to-Core Program promoted by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Project No. 18004) and the Australian Research Council, AMIRA International, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Orica, Anglo Platinum, Xstrata, Freeport McMoran and AREVA NC through the Australian Minerals Science Research Institute (AMSRI) (LP0667828). Thanks to the Australian Academy of Science and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for the Bilateral Exchange Fellowship for GVF to visit Okayama in September 2012. Thanks to Dr. Puru Shrestha (BHB/Billiton) for supplying the copper ore from Cerro Colorado, Chile and Prof. Emmy Manlapig and Dr. Frank Shi (JKMRC, UQ) for providing the copper ore from the Ernest Henry mine in Queensland Australia. Thanks to Carolina Tallon for the XRD analysis.