Barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-fraction lead-zinc tailings

Abstract

The invention discloses a barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-fraction lead-zinc tailings, and relates to the technical field of mineral separation. The method comprises the following steps that S1, the lead-zinc flotation tailings with the content of-0.021 mm in the fraction being 96% or above are fed into a laminated high-frequency vibration fine screen, coarse separation treatment is conducted on the tailings, and coarse-grain gangue with the fraction being + 0.106 mm is removed to serve as materials for underground filling; the method is short in process, simple in equipment, high in process controllability, capable of being stably applied to a pretreatment link of fine-fraction tailings of a dressing plant, capable of removing coarse grains and fine silt in a pure physical separation mode, free of chemical agents and free of chemical pollution or dust emission, and the method mainly adopts a physical separation section, does not need a complex chemical agent system, and is suitable for industrial production. The construction requirements of green mines and intelligent mines are met, the tailings discharge capacity can be effectively reduced by remarkably improving the barite recovery effect, and a support is provided for tailings filling, tailings comprehensive utilization and mine storage capacity pressure reduction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mineral processing technology, specifically to a barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings. Background Technology

[0002] The large amount of fine-grained tailings generated during lead-zinc ore beneficiation is typically stored in tailings ponds. However, in some mining areas, due to geographical constraints, high environmental sensitivity, and related policy restrictions, it is difficult to construct new tailings ponds, leading to a continuous reduction in the capacity of existing tailings ponds. Tailings discharge has become a key factor restricting normal mine production and sustainable development. Against this backdrop, mining companies have proposed the goal of "all-resource mines" or "tailings-free mines," aiming to reduce tailings discharge and achieve efficient resource utilization and green development through comprehensive recovery of valuable components, comprehensive utilization of waste rock and tailings, and tailings backfilling.

[0003] The tailings dam capacity of a certain lead-zinc mine is gradually decreasing, and due to the geographical location of the beneficiation plant, the surrounding environment, and relevant policy factors, it is impossible to build a new tailings dam. The issue of tailings disposal has become a key constraint on the survival and development of the mine. To solve the problem of mine survival, the group company proposed the concept of "all-resource mine," which combines comprehensive recovery of valuable components, comprehensive utilization of waste rock and tailings, and tailings backfilling to achieve survival and development without tailings dams, thus realizing a "tailings-free mine."

[0004] Over the years, researchers have analyzed and studied the ore and found that the key to achieving a "tailsless mine" is to enrich and recover barite from lead-zinc tailings. Regarding the technological issues of barite recovery, the company's technical personnel, together with relevant research institutes, have conducted a lot of research and made many attempts in on-site production. However, due to issues such as ore beneficiation indicators, production costs, and the application of recycled water, it is difficult to form a final technical route.

[0005] Given the distribution characteristics of barite in zinc tailings, to efficiently recover barite, the first step should be to adopt efficient tailings desliming technology to achieve barite pre-enrichment. As a result, a barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings has emerged.

[0006] Therefore, a barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings in order to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention specifically adopts the following technical solution:

[0009] A barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings includes the following steps:

[0010] Step S1: The lead-zinc flotation tailings with a content of -0.021mm or more in the particle size are fed into a stacked high-frequency vibrating fine screen to perform coarse separation treatment on the tailings and remove coarse gangue with a particle size of +0.106mm as material for underground backfilling.

[0011] Step S2: The slurry undersize from the multilayer high-frequency vibrating fine screen is pumped through a buffer tank to the feed tank of the blanket separator.

[0012] Step S3: The slurry entering the feed hopper is evenly fed into the blanket separator. Through the spray water flow, gravity settling and the physical adsorption of the blanket fibers, the low specific gravity particles in the fine tailings are separated from the high specific gravity particles, thereby achieving the effective removal of -0.021mm fine mud.

[0013] Furthermore, the process can effectively remove gangue minerals of +0.106mm and -0.021mm while improving the recovery rate of fine-grained barite, thereby increasing the feed grade for subsequent barite flotation.

[0014] Furthermore, the function of the stacked high-frequency vibrating fine screen is to selectively remove +0.106mm particle size material from the tailings, which mainly consists of gangue such as dolomite that does not contain barite value.

[0015] Furthermore, in step S3, the blanket separator includes a blanket, a feeding system, a water flow regulating device, a transmission system, and a collection device. It utilizes the fiber structure on the surface of the blanket to adsorb fine-grained heavy minerals, and achieves the separation of heavy minerals and light gangue under the action of spray water flow. The blanket fibers can capture micron-sized heavy mineral particles that are difficult to recover in traditional gravity separation sluices, and have a significant separation effect on tailings with a wide particle size distribution and high mud content.

[0016] Furthermore, the slurry is buffered and stirred before being fed into the blanket separator to stabilize its concentration and flow rate, ensuring uniform material reception in the blanket separator and reducing the loss rate of barite during the desliming process.

[0017] Furthermore, during the blanket sorting process, fine-grained minerals move downwards along the blanket surface under the action of water flow, while heavy minerals, due to their high density, fast settling, and high inertia, remain in the gaps of the blanket pile, and low-density gangue is discharged with the water flow, thus achieving the gradual enrichment of barite particles.

[0018] Furthermore, after the blanket moves to the end, the surface of the blanket is rinsed with high-pressure water to achieve efficient desorption of barite and collection of concentrate.

[0019] Furthermore, the pre-enrichment process has a short flow rate, low water consumption, no chemical reagent pollution, and no dust emissions, making it suitable for green mine construction and the recycling of fine-grained tailings.

[0020] Furthermore, the Fe and BaSO4 grades of fine-grained barite flotation feed treated by this pre-enrichment technology are significantly higher than those of feed deslimed by hydrocyclones, thereby improving the separation effect of subsequent desulfurization flotation and barite flotation.

[0021] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0022] The particle size distribution characteristics of barite in tailings were investigated. A multilayer high-frequency vibrating fine screen was used to remove coarse gangue particles of +0.106mm, and a blanket separator was used to further remove fine mud of -0.021mm. This efficient removal of the main gangue components in the tailings created stable conditions for the enrichment of fine-grained barite.

[0023] By using a combination of high-frequency screen and blanket separator for desliming, this invention can significantly improve the BaSO4 grade of the flotation feed. Compared with the process of using hydrocyclone desliming, the feed quality is higher, which is conducive to the smooth progress of subsequent desulfurization flotation and barite flotation processes.

[0024] The blanket sorter relies on the physical adsorption of fibers to capture micron-sized fine barite particles, avoiding the large loss of fine barite particles in the traditional desliming process and significantly improving the recovery rate of barite after desliming.

[0025] By using physical classification and selective removal of fine mud, the content of fine mud in the tailings is significantly reduced, thereby reducing the negative impact of fine mud on reagent adsorption, pulp viscosity and flotation kinetics, fundamentally improving flotation conditions and enhancing flotation performance and process stability.

[0026] This invention features a short process and simple equipment, primarily employing physical separation methods without the need for complex chemical reagent systems. The process is highly controllable and can be stably applied to the pretreatment stage of fine-grained tailings in mineral processing plants. It uses a purely physical separation method to remove coarse particles and fine mud without the addition of chemical reagents, thus avoiding chemical pollution or dust emissions and meeting the requirements for the construction of green and smart mines.

[0027] By significantly improving the barite recovery effect, this invention can effectively reduce the amount of tailings discharged, providing support for tailings backfilling, comprehensive utilization of tailings, and reducing the pressure on mine storage capacity. It is an important technical link in promoting the realization of the goals of "all-resource mines" and "tailings-free mines". Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the barite pre-enrichment process for lead-zinc tailings according to the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the barite pre-enrichment technology for lead-zinc tailings according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0031] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0032] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "inner", "outer", "upper", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the product of the invention is usually placed when in use. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0034] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, a barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings includes the following steps:

[0035] Step S1: The lead-zinc flotation tailings with a content of -0.021mm or more in the particle size are fed into a stacked high-frequency vibrating fine screen to perform coarse separation treatment on the tailings and remove coarse gangue with a particle size of +0.106mm as material for underground backfilling.

[0036] Step S2: The slurry undersize from the multilayer high-frequency vibrating fine screen is pumped through a buffer tank to the feed tank of the blanket separator.

[0037] Step S3: The slurry entering the feed hopper is evenly fed into the blanket separator. Through the spray water flow, gravity settling and the physical adsorption of the blanket fibers, the low specific gravity particles in the fine tailings are separated from the high specific gravity particles, thereby achieving the effective removal of -0.021mm fine mud.

[0038] In step S3, the blanket separator includes a blanket, a feeding system, a water flow regulating device, a transmission system, and a collection device. It utilizes the fiber structure on the surface of the blanket to adsorb fine-grained heavy minerals, and achieves the separation of heavy minerals and light gangue under the action of spray water flow. The blanket fibers can capture micron-sized heavy mineral particles that are difficult to recover in traditional gravity separation sluices, and have a significant separation effect on tailings with a wide particle size distribution and high mud content.

[0039] Before being fed into the blanket separator, the slurry is buffered and stirred to stabilize its concentration and flow rate, ensuring uniform material reception in the blanket separator and reducing the loss rate of barite during the desliming process.

[0040] During the blanket sorting process, fine-grained minerals move downward along the blanket surface under the action of water flow, while heavy minerals, due to their high density, fast settling and high inertia, remain in the gaps of the blanket pile, and low-density gangue is discharged with the water flow, thus achieving the gradual enrichment of barite particles.

[0041] After the blanket is moved to the end, the surface of the blanket is rinsed with high-pressure water to achieve efficient desorption of barite and collection of concentrate.

[0042] The pre-enrichment process has a short flow rate, low water consumption, no chemical reagent pollution, and no dust emissions, making it suitable for green mine construction and the recycling of fine-grained tailings.

[0043] The fine-grained barite flotation feed treated by this pre-enrichment technology has significantly higher Fe and BaSO4 grades than the feed deslimed by hydrocyclones, thereby improving the separation effect of subsequent desulfurization flotation and barite flotation.

[0044] Example 1

[0045] The ore sample was flotation tailings from a lead-zinc mine in Guangxi, with 96% having a fineness of -0.021mm. Flotation samples were prepared using both the "high-frequency screen-cyclone separator" and "high-frequency screen-blanket separator" processes. The comparison results are shown in the table below:

[0046]

[0047] The results show that, under the same BaSO4 grade conditions in the flotation tailings, the BaSO4 grade obtained by the "high frequency screen-blanket separator" process is higher than that obtained by the "high frequency screen-cyclone separator" process, and the BaSO4 loss rate during desliming is lower.

[0048] Example 2

[0049] The ore sample was flotation tailings from a lead-zinc mine in Guangxi, with a fineness of -0.021mm accounting for 96%. Flotation samples were prepared using both the "high-frequency screen-cyclone" and "high-frequency screen-blanket separator" processes. The flotation process was "desulfurization flotation-barite flotation." Desulfurization flotation was performed using 1200g / t sulfuric acid activation, 240g / t butyl xanthate, and 80g / t No. 2 oil. Barite roughing was performed using 800g / t water glass, 1200g / t sulfuric acid, and 240g / t sodium dodecyl sulfate. The flotation test results are compared in the table below:

[0050]

[0051] The results show that the grades of Fe and BaSO4 in the flotation feed obtained by the "high frequency screen-blanket separator" process are higher than those obtained by the "high frequency screen-cyclone separator" process. At the same time, because the blanket separator has a cleaner desliming effect, it has a more obvious effect on the subsequent desulfurization flotation and barite flotation.

[0052] The above examples demonstrate that using a "high-frequency screen-blanket separator" to deslim a lead-zinc flotation tailings can effectively optimize subsequent flotation conditions.

[0053] In summary: The particle size distribution characteristics of barite in tailings are analyzed. A multi-stage high-frequency vibrating fine screen is used to remove coarse gangue (+0.106mm), followed by a blanket separator to further remove fine mud (-0.021mm). This efficiently removes the main gangue components from the tailings, creating stable conditions for the enrichment of fine-grained barite. By combining high-frequency screening with a blanket separator for desliming, this invention significantly improves the BaSO4 grade of the flotation feed. Compared to desliming using hydrocyclones, the feed quality is higher, which is beneficial for the smooth progress of subsequent desulfurization flotation and barite flotation processes. The blanket separator, relying on the physical adsorption of fibers, has a significant capture capacity for micron-sized fine barite, avoiding the significant loss of fine barite in traditional desliming processes and significantly improving the recovery rate of barite after desliming. Through physical classification and fine mud selectivity… This invention significantly reduces the content of fine mud in tailings, minimizing its negative impact on reagent adsorption, pulp viscosity, and flotation kinetics. It fundamentally improves flotation conditions, enhancing flotation efficiency and process stability. The invention features a short process flow and simple equipment, primarily employing physical separation methods without the need for complex chemical reagent systems. Its highly controllable process allows for stable application in the pretreatment stage of fine-grained tailings in mineral processing plants. By using purely physical separation to remove coarse particles and fine mud, it eliminates the need for chemical reagents, preventing chemical pollution and dust emissions, thus meeting the requirements for green and smart mines. Furthermore, by significantly improving barite recovery, this invention effectively reduces tailings discharge, supporting tailings backfilling, comprehensive tailings utilization, and reducing mine storage pressure. It is a crucial technological step in promoting the realization of "all-resource mines" and "tailings-free mines."

[0054] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed invention. The scope of protection claimed by the appended claims and their equivalents is defined.

Claims

1. A barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step S1: The lead-zinc flotation tailings with a content of -0.021mm or more in the particle size are fed into a stacked high-frequency vibrating fine screen to perform coarse separation treatment on the tailings and remove coarse gangue with a particle size of +0.106mm as material for underground backfilling. Step S2: The slurry undersize from the multilayer high-frequency vibrating fine screen is pumped through a buffer tank to the feed tank of the blanket separator. Step S3: The slurry entering the feed hopper is evenly fed into the blanket separator. Through the spray water flow, gravity settling and the physical adsorption of the blanket fibers, the low specific gravity particles in the fine tailings are separated from the high specific gravity particles, thereby achieving the effective removal of -0.021mm fine mud.

2. The barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings according to claim 1, characterized in that, in, The process can improve the recovery rate of fine-grained barite while effectively removing gangue minerals of +0.106mm and -0.021mm, thereby increasing the feed grade for subsequent barite flotation.

3. The barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings according to claim 1, characterized in that, The function of the stacked high-frequency vibrating fine screen is to selectively remove +0.106mm particle size material from the tailings. This part of the material is mainly gangue such as dolomite that does not contain barite value.

4. The barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S3, the blanket separator includes a blanket, a feeding system, a water flow regulating device, a transmission system, and a collection device. It utilizes the fiber structure on the surface of the blanket to adsorb fine heavy minerals, and achieves the separation of heavy minerals and light gangue under the action of spray water flow. The blanket fibers can capture micron-sized heavy mineral particles that are difficult to recover in traditional gravity separation sluices, and have a significant separation effect on tailings with a wide particle size distribution and high mud content.

5. The barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before being fed into the blanket separator, the slurry is buffered and stirred to stabilize its concentration and flow rate, ensuring uniform material reception in the blanket separator and reducing the loss rate of barite during the desliming process.

6. The barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings according to claim 4, characterized in that, During the blanket sorting process, fine-grained minerals move downward along the blanket surface under the action of water flow, while heavy minerals, due to their high density, fast settling and high inertia, remain in the gaps of the blanket pile, and low-density gangue is discharged with the water flow, thus achieving the gradual enrichment of barite particles.

7. The barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the blanket is moved to the end, its surface is rinsed with high-pressure water to achieve efficient desorption of barite and collection of concentrate.

8. The barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pre-enrichment process is short, uses little water, has no chemical pollutants, and produces no dust emissions. It is suitable for green mine construction and the recycling of fine-grained tailings.

9. The barite pre-enrichment technology for fine-grained lead-zinc tailings according to claim 8, characterized in that, The fine-grained barite flotation feed treated by this pre-enrichment technology has significantly higher Fe and BaSO4 grades than the feed deslimed by hydrocyclones, thereby improving the separation effect of subsequent desulfurization flotation and barite flotation.

Images