Polar Division of “Norilsk Nickel” MMC, Norilsk, Russia

L. S. Lesnikova, Head of Laboratory (Center of Engineering Maintenance of Production), phone: +7 (3919) 26-70-97
O. A. Nikitina, Chief Specialist (Center of Engineering Maintenance of Production)
V. M. Tozik, Executive Officer of Copper Plant
I. V. Volyanskiy, Chief Engineer (Production Association of Concentration Plants)

Institute “Norilskproekt” — Norilsk Branch of “Gipronikel” Institute” LLC, Norilsk, Russia
V. V. Sosnovskiy, Chief Engineer of Project

There is proposed the flotation processing technology of copper plant slags (both the slags, which are stored on the slag dump, and the slags, which are formed during the current activity of this dump). There are considered the methods of autonomous processing of various type slags and their mixture in various ratio. In-depth study of substantial composition of slags became the basis of technology development. Results of X-ray spectrum microprobe researches of slag samples have shown that magnetite and various silicates are the basic mineral phases, included into the composition of these samples. In connection with the carried out laboratory researches of grindability and crushability, and according to the accepted classification, there can be made a conclusion, that the dump slags are strong and difficult-to-grind. On the basis of obtained results, there was chosen the method, which foresees two stages of average grinding in cone crushers and one stage of fine grinding in high pressure roll crusher. Further, the grinding process includes two stages with obtaining of product, containing 70% of –0.045 mm of the control grain size fraction. After these stages, the material is supplied to flotation. It is shown, that concentratibility of the current slag of copper plant, and its charge with stored slag in the ratio of 1:1, makes it possible to obtain the qualitative copper concentrates due to application of a range of technological approaches. These copper concentrates are subject to the following pyrometallurgical processing. According to results of the researches, the expected technological slags processing indices are given along with operating conditions of the process. On the basis of the carried out work, the governing body of “Norilsk Nickel” MMC made a decision to construct the factory for the copper plant slags processing. Setting this factory into exploitation is expected to be in 2015.

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