Abstract
LONDON. Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, October 17.—Mr. Edward Hooper, president, in the chair.—J. W. Ashcroft: The flotation process, as applied to the concentration of copper ore at the Kyloe Copper Mine, New South Wales. As a consequence of the oxidised ore at this mine being practically exhausted, the original method of treatment was found to be inadequate, and the present management introduced an experimental flotation process with the view of obtaining a better recovery and higher grade concentrate. As first planned, the plant for this flotation process was divided into a grinding section and a flotation section, and the paper deals at length with the defects which manifested themselves in the first experimental stages, and with the rearrangements dictated by experience. The chief defects were the excessive amount of oversize in the feed of the stirring boxes, the excessive dilution of the pulp, the irregularity of the overflow from the flotation chambers due to the irregularity of the feed and of the speed of the impellers, and a want of proper means to control the supply of oil. To remedy these, the grinding pans were altered to the positive feed type, and were arranged to discharge on to revolving screens, so as to keep the feed to the flotation machine more even in size; the pulp thickener was moved and placed between the screens and the flotation machine so as to keep an even feed to the stirring boxes and to regulate its' density; the flotation machine was controlled by a sensitive governor to keep the speed of the stirrers constant, and an apparatus was devised to secure an even flow of oil. The results of this reorganisation proved satisfactory, and this paper gives interesting details of costs of operation, &c, and some observations on the successful. working of the process.
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Societies And Academies. . Nature 90, 298–299 (1912). https://doi.org/10.1038/090298a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/090298a0