Minpro

Amelunxen Mineral Processing Ltd

AMINPRO FKT, SKT and SKT-WS

Flotation Kinetic Testwork
Procedures

Box 296, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, Canada, V0N 1T0

Tel/Fax (1-604) 898 1111 - www.aminpro.com

Minpro

Amelunxen Mineral Processing Ltd

TEST PROCEDURE FLOWSHEET

Grinding
Mill

FKT
150
75

FS

25

FS1
FS2
FS3
FS4

Flotation
Cell

PAN

C1
C2
C3

Symbol

Name

FS
FS1
FS2
FS3
FS4
C1
C2
C3
C4
TS1
TS2
TS3
TS4
T

C4

Measurements
Slurry Weight

Dry weight

Sample Total Feed

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Sample Feed Screen 1

Sample Feed Screen 2
Sample Feed Screen 3
Sample Feed Screen 4

X
X
X
X

Sample Conc 1
Sample Conc 2
Sample Conc 3
Sample Conc 4
Sample Tail Screen 1
Sample Tail Screen 2
Sample Tail Screen 3
Sample Tail Screen 4

Sample Total Tail

Assays

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

150

TS

75
25

TS1
TS2
TS3
TS4
PAN

Grinding
Mill

SKT
150
75

FS

25

FS1
FS2
FS3
FS4

Flotation
Cell

PAN

C1
C2
C3

Symbol

Name

FS
FS1
FS2
FS3
FS4
C1
C2
C3
C4
T

C4

Measurements
Slurry Weight

Sample Total Feed

Sample Feed Screen 1

Sample Feed Screen 2
Sample Feed Screen 3
Sample Feed Screen 4
Sample Conc 1
Sample Conc 2
Sample Conc 3
Sample Conc 4
Sample Total Tail

X
X
X
X
X

Dry weight

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Assays

X
X
X
X
X

TS

Box 296, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, Canada, V0N 1T0

Tel/Fax (1-604) 898 1111 - www.aminpro.com

Minpro

Amelunxen Mineral Processing Ltd

Grinding
Mill

SKT-WS
150
75

FS

25

FS1
FS2
FS3
FS4

Flotation
Cell

PAN

C1
C2
C3

Symbol

Name

FS
FS1
FS2
FS3
FS4
C1
C2
C3
C4
T
SED

C4

Measurements
Slurry Weight

Sample Total Feed

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Sample Feed Screen 1

Sample Feed Screen 2
Sample Feed Screen 3
Sample Feed Screen 4

X
X
X
X
X
X

Sample Conc 1
Sample Conc 2
Sample Conc 3
Sample Conc 4
Sample Total Tail
Sedimentation Sample

Dry weight

Assays

Settling

TS

X
X
X
X
X

Sedimentation

24 Hrs

Procedure:
Global procedure:

Log Samples as received (tag, weight, visual)

Crush sample to 10Mesh (do not overcrush)
Prepare bags of X g for screening and flotation

In doing flotation testwork, current technology is to develop the flotation kinetics

rather than doing pilot testwork on a bulk sample, or performing locked cycle
tests. Locked cycle testwork is useful for examining the effect of sulphates in the
ore, or residual reagent effects. The sizing of equipment and circuit configuration
is done with kinetics of the minerals that constitute the ore tested. Al those NonFlotable species are considered gangue and the rest are tested for kinetics.
In performing rougher testwork, current methodologies allow for a single test to
define the effect of grind on the flotation rate constant and the maximum
recovery. So multiple tests are no longer necessary to test the effect of grind on
recovery. These tests are normally done under an FKT procedure and the same
applies for the cleaning tests. pH and % solids are also done under an FKT
procedure to examine the variation of particle kinetics as a function of these
variables. The variability tests are normally done under the SKT-WS testwork
procedure as it allows a quick method to test the effect of head grade and
confirm the grind effect on recovery. In addition, these tests provide a relative
indication of ore hardness as they are all done at the same grind time.
Box 296, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, Canada, V0N 1T0
Tel/Fax (1-604) 898 1111 - www.aminpro.com

Minpro

Amelunxen Mineral Processing Ltd

FLOTATION PROGRAM
MIX 2 A-Bags from
each ore type

A-Rougher

REAGENT
TESTWORK,
pH =10

25,30,35,40 %sol
FKT

B-Variability

C-Cleaners

SKT-WS

SKT - A3894
25 g/t
Nat, 9, 10, 11 pH
FKT
SKT - A3894/A238
25/10 g/t

Settling Test on
Selected tails

2 - FKT
pH 10, diff grinds
SKT - A3894/PAX
25/10 g/t

Estimate Bags
Of 2200 g required
For cleaner tests

SKT - A3894/SIBX
25/10 g/t

Dosage Test - SKT

Best Combination
5/2 , 10/5, 20/10,
40/20 g/t

Mass
Rougher Flot

Regrind FKT
P80 = 30, 60, 90

SKT - mejor dosage

Vs Kerosene 50 g/t, vs 3302 50 g/t

10,11, 12 pH
FKT

SKT - mejor dosage

Vs desoge mejor col de moly

Mass
Regrind
Column Flot
Settling
Filter test

Aminpro will recommend the protocol for testwork according to the ore and needs
of the client. The chart above is a suggestive procedure for a typical copper ore.

Note 1: The sample size depends on client percentage Solids requirement and needs to be
increased by 300 g for screen analysis

Grind sample of X weight to approx. P80 desired

Filter Grind product (keep water)
Remove 300g feed material from filter cake and screen
Float X-300 g at discreet intervals (go to 32 minutes)
Filter and dry tailings
Buck samples and prepare for assays and/or microscopy.
Perform Screen Analysis on Feed and Tails
Enter data in standard table.

Note 2:

Aminpro Flotation Kinetics testwork will not encourage users to screen concentrates. In so
doing, the handling of the samples (4 concentrates) and reconstitution will jeopardize the concentrate
sample integrity and cause errors in balancing, as has been our observations with other procedures.

Box 296, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, Canada, V0N 1T0

Tel/Fax (1-604) 898 1111 - www.aminpro.com

Minpro

Amelunxen Mineral Processing Ltd

Procedure Details
Sample Prep:
A representative sample of 2 Kg should be crushed to -10 Mesh without overcrushing. In other words, as material is crushed, only the +10Mesh portion
should be returned to the crusher for further size reduction.
Of the 2 Kg sample, riffle out X g flotation feed sample. As the test requires a
screen analysis of the flotation feed sample, it is recommended that sufficient
sample is ground in a mill to generate approximately 300 g for screening and the
remaining for flotation. The amount required for flotation must be equal to the %
solids of the actual plant flotation feed stream. Thus, if we let X be the total
sample required for grinding in grams, the weight is calculated from:

X = Vfloat Cell / [ (100-%Sol)/%Sol + 1/sg sol ] + 300

Where %Sol is the solids of the plant , Vfloat Cell is the volume of slurry the cell
requires at the start of the lab flotation test (in milliliters) and sg sol is the specific
gravity of the solids material being floated. Prepare all the samples by placing
them into plastic bags and if they deteriorate rapidly, they need to be refrigerated
or filled with an inert gas (Argon/Nitrogen) and sealed.
Grind:

Prepare/clean grinding mill for test (check ball load: Wt/Charge-size), RPM
Add X g to ball mill
Add water to make up 62% solids
Add reagents (lime, collector,frother) as per detailed client procedure.
Grind for sufficient time to yield client P80 value.
Log grind time / reagent addition
Removed slurry from grinding mill (Use as little water as possible)

Filter Grind Product

The grinding mill product must be filtered

Keep the water so it can be used for the flotation test.
Divide the filter cake in N sections of similar size.

Box 296, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, Canada, V0N 1T0

Tel/Fax (1-604) 898 1111 - www.aminpro.com

Minpro

Amelunxen Mineral Processing Ltd

Remove 300 g for screening by taking pies from opposite sides of cake
Dry the 300 g sample for subsequent screening.
Place the X-300 g (or so) sample in a lab flotation cell.

Flotation Test
FKT Test: Perform screen analysis on FEED and Tails and follow the
Procedures shown above
SKT Test: Perform screen analysis on FEED only and follow the procedures
shown above.
SKT-WS (With settling test): is the same as an SKT, but do a settling test on
the tails before filtering (by taking a predetermined volume of slurry from the
agitated pulp) for 24 Hrs with optimized flocculant and flocculant dosage over a
24 Hr period, or at least until the terminal density has been achieved. The test is
to be done between 8 and 10% solids by weight.

Prepare cell for flotation (measure air, auto-level system, set RPM)
Place the agitator in the cell and turn on without splashing (and no air).
Add filtrate water to the cell and bring it near desired level for flotation.
Place the remainder of the water (if there is excess) in the water reservoir for
the automatic level control system.
Set cell on auto-level mode.
Add reagents as per client procedure (start with lime/pH/redox)
Condition 1 minute.
Turn air on.
As soon as the concentrate appears, start the clock and start removing
concentrate.
In the absence of an automatic level control system, periodic adjustment of
the level may be required as the test proceeds.
Separate concentrates 0-0.5 min, 0.5-2 min, 2-6 min, 6-16 min. If the ore is
slow floating, the last interval must be 16-32 min.
No squirts of water are allowed on the cells lip. No water addition is allowed
to the concentrate pan, at least until it has been weighed. This is because the
Aminpro FKT test requires accurate readings of the % solids of each
concentrate produced.
A squirt of water is allowed on the cell side walls some 30 seconds prior to
the end of a time interval.
The concentrate removal rate should be proportional to the visible amount of
concentrate on the cell. Do not scoop into the pulp !!. Do not automate (i.e. Y
scoops per minute) the pulling rate as it will reflect on the kinetics.
At end of test, measure pH, redox.

Box 296, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, Canada, V0N 1T0

Tel/Fax (1-604) 898 1111 - www.aminpro.com

Minpro

Amelunxen Mineral Processing Ltd

All flotation tests must be backed with a flot. Test form. This form must be
made available electronically.
Record all equipment dimensions, volumes, rpms, etc. so a third party can
reproduce the testwork.

Filter and Dry Flotation Products

At the end of the test, ensure that all wet weights are taken from the tailings
and concentrates products. Weigh cell with contents to obtain the tailings wet
weight. Ensure no water is added that could yield erroneous information.
Dry all flotation products and weigh.
Estimate the % solids of all products including feed.

Buck samples and prepare them for assays and/or microscopy.

Prepare concentrate samples as follows:

Each concentrate must be dried
Split each concentrate interval into 2 portions: one for microscopy and one
for assaying (elements and partial extraction) (weight ratio: 1/9
respectively)
The portion being assayed must be pulverized.
Prepare the Feed and tailings sample as follows:
Split the tailings sample into 2 portions: one for screening (300 g), and a
reject.
The two 300 g samples (Feed and Tails) will be screened. The product of
each screen fraction must be split into two portions: one for microscopy
and one for assays. The weights should be 1/9 respectively.
All samples destined for assays must be pulverized.
All samples going to microscopy must remain un-pulverized.
All reject samples must be bagged/labeled and kept.

Perform Screen Analysis on Feed and Tails

Both Feed and Tail samples (300 g each) must be screened accurately most
likely on sizes 100Mesh, 200Mesh, 500Mesh and 500Mesh. The client will
specify.

The idea is to maintain the same screens for all the tests and to generate similar weights
for each screen. It is always recommended that for typical porphyry ores, that the bottom
screen be a 500 Mesh denomination. Under these conditions, the entire 300g sample
must be wet screened on 500 Mesh. The oversize must be dried and re-screened on the

Box 296, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, Canada, V0N 1T0

Tel/Fax (1-604) 898 1111 - www.aminpro.com

Minpro

Amelunxen Mineral Processing Ltd

upper screens. The undersize can be dried. When the oversize is screened, there will
always be some 500 Mesh material left that will need to be joined with the original 500
Mesh product from the wet screening operation. For dry screening, shake 20 min

The screen denomination and the number of screens will depend on client
requirements. It is recommended that only four screen be used as the costs
for the test increase drastically with increased number of screens.

Reporting Results

All results should reported on a spreadsheet. Results should be reported

electronically

Box 296, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, Canada, V0N 1T0

Tel/Fax (1-604) 898 1111 - www.aminpro.com