ARABIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES, cilt.10, sa.15, 2017 (SCI-Expanded)
In this study, the effect of pre-agglomeration on the flotation of fine-sized gold ore containing 11.3 g/t Au was investigated using olive and soybean oils. Firstly, the ore was floated using only collectors. Secondly, the ore was floated in the presence of vegetable oils and collectors. Finally, the effect of pre-agglomeration with graphite particles was tested again in the presence of two vegetable oils and collectors. In the first case, 93.8% gold recovery with 28.0 g/t Au grade was achieved. The gold recovery decreased to 79.8% with increased gold grade of 46.0 g/t Au when olive oil was used in flotation. Finally, the gold recovery decreased to 75.2% with an increased gold grade of 51.5 g/t when pre-agglomeration step was applied with the use of olive oil. Under the same flotation conditions, pre-agglomeration stage reduced the gold recovery but with increased gold grades.