Study on Flotation Separation of High Sulfur Lead-zinc Ore from Yunnan

Study on the mineral processing of a high sulfur lead-zinc ore in Yunnan Province were conducted. Grades of lead, zinc and silver were 2.98%, 2.79% and 114.95 g/t, respectively. Ore was ground to -0.074 mm 76.19% and under the condition of selective flotation process, the combined reagents ZnSO₄ and Na₂CO₃ used as the depressant and HQ-Pb and HQ-Zn were used as a novel galena and sphalerite collector. From the results of closed circuit tests, the lead concentrate, containing 56.62% Pb and 1915.38 g/t Ag, was produced, at recovery of 82.36% Pb and 73.44% Ag. And zinc concentrate of 45.92% Zn and 171.38 g/t Ag, was obtained, at recovery of 82.29% Zn and 7.58% Ag.