Pilot Mill Flotation of Serpentinized Platinum-Palladium Ore from the Stillwater Complex

摘要

The Bureau of Mines investigated methods for beneficiating platinum-palladium ores from the Stillwater Complex, Montana. Results of bench-scale and pilot-scale studies employing froth flotation to recover sulfide concentrates containing platinum-palladium values from a serpentinized ore are presented. Best results in the pilot mill were obtained with a sodium isobutyl xanthate-normal dodecyl mercaptan collector combination at a natural pH of 8.2. A rougher concentrate containing 1.7 oz/ton Pt and 4.7 oz/ton Pd was prepared. Recoveries of platinum and palladium were 96 pct and 86 pct, respectively. Batch cleaner flotation of rougher concentrates yielded concentrates containing 3.7 oz/ton Pt and 9.8 oz/ton Pd.