Opportunities for fine gold recovery from a copper flotation circuit using Knelson concentrator

Experiments aimed at determination of the character of the gold observed in a copper ore processed by flotation, and also to evaluate the possibilities of improvement of the total gold recovery have been carried out. The gravity equipment used was a 7.5" Knelson screen hydrostatic concentrator, reported of being capable of treatment and upgrading of up to 1000 times raw material with about 30% hypothetical concentration of heavy flotation sized particles. The gold-to-sulfides ratio obtained during the various runs was chosen as a general criterion for the type of gold presented (free or locked) and for the gravity approach feasibility.