Methods and compositions for treating partitioned flows

Abstract

Methods of improving the stability of froth flotation overflows and underflows include adding 1 ppm to 1000 ppm by weight of a cationic polymer to an overflow or an underflow including 1 wt% to 20 wt % of a particulate product in a medium, wherein the particulate product is a valuable mineral product or a gangue. In particular, the addition of cationic polymer to a tailings flow – that is, a gangue in a fluid medium - reduces or eliminates "sanding", a term of art used to describe the technical problem of deposition of gangue solids from tailings flows transported through pipes, tubes, and runways during transportation thereof e.g. to a thickener bed.

Description

METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING PARTITIONED FLOWSBACKGROUND

[0001] Froth flotation is a method widely used in the mining industry to partition liberated mineral products from the rock matrix materials, or “gangue”, present in a comminuted mineral ore. in conventional froth flotation, water along with one or more chemicals are added to a comminuted mineral ore having a particle size of less than 500 μm, often less than 250 μm or even 100 μm or less, to form an ore slurry; and the ore slurry is aerated, for example by sparging, to form a plethora of bubbles therein that move toward the surface of the ore slurry to form a froth thereon. The chemicals in the ore slurry are selected by the operator to promote association of valuable mineral-bearing particles -• that is, the mineral product - with the bubbles, support the mineral product within the froth, and withstand the physical manipulation of collecting the froth, thereby enabling the partitioning and separation of the mineral product from the ore slurry by collecting the froth from the surface of the ore slurry. The gangue particles tend to remain in the sl urry due to the selectivity of the froth, further as promoted by the chemicals added to the ore slurry,

[0002] .Reverse froth flotation works in accordance with the same principles and methodology as conventional froth flotation, except that the operator adds chemicals to the mineral ore slurry to promote adhesion of the gangue particles to the froth. Accordingly, in reverse froth flotation, the gangue particles are collected with the froth; and the mineral product remains in the slurry and is collected therefrom.

[0003] On an industrial scale, both conventional and reverse froth flotation are achieved in multiple steps by subjecting a stream of a mineral ore slurry to a continuous series, or a circuit, of flotation cells. The mineral product is partitioned from the gangue, and the partitioned streams arc collected from the flotation circuit and passed on to a subsequent step in the selected mineral process. Industrially, a froth collected from the surface of an aerated mineral ore slurry is referred to as an “overflow" while the slurry remaining after collecting the froth therefrom is referred to as the “underflow”. An overflow or an underflow including a gangue is referred to industrially as “tailings” or “tailings flow”. An overflow or underflow including a mineral product is referred to herein as a “mineral product flow”.

[0004] Overflows and underflows collected from froth flotation containments, that is, froth flotation cells or circuits, including combined overflows and underflows obtained from a plurality of froth flotation cells, are slurries including relati vely low concentrations of aparticulate product that is either a mineral product or gangue dispersed therein, often about 20 wt% or less of the particulate product dispersed therein. Accordingly, a subsequent step to concentrate an overflow or an underflow by removing a portion of the water thercftom is often carried out by an operator. During concentration of an overflow or underflow, least about 1(1 wt%, often 20% or more of the medium by volume or by weight is removed from the partitioned flow to form a concentrated flow therefrom. Industrially, the process of forming a concentrated flow from a partitioned flow is referred to as “thickening”. A concentrated overflow or underflow includes at least 30 wt% solids. Often, a concentrated overflow or underflow includes 40 wt% solids or more.

[0005] For example, tailings are often thickened by sedimentation or filtration or a combination thereof to recover water for re-use within the mineral processing circuitry (including but not limited to the froth flotation circuit) at one or more locations, prior to further treating or disposing of the tailings solids. In some cases a tailings flow is further dewatered by a final filtration to form a tailings concentrate; in other cases, the partly- dewatered tailings are stored in a tailings pond. Accordingly, a tailings concentrate or a partly-dewatered tailings concentrate includes at least 30 wt% solids. Often, a tailings concentrate includes 40 wt% solids or more.

[0006] In order to thicken, or concentrate, an overflow or an underflow, it must be transported from a froth flotation containment or cell, to a containment adapted and designed to concentrate a slurry of particles within a liquid mediant: that is, a containment for carrying out one or more sedimentation, evaporation, filtration, or other processes for removing water from an overflow or underflow. Industrially, such concentration containments are referred to as “thickener beds”. In many mineral ore processing plants, after partitioning an overflow from an underflow in a froth flotation cell or circuit, the overflow having 20 wt% solids or less is applied to a first conduit in fluid connection with a first thickener bed, and transported through the first conduit and into a first thickener bed, and concentrated in the first thickener bed to form a first concentrate having 30 wt% solids or more; and the underflow having 20 wt% solids or less is applied to a second conduit in fluid connection with a second thickener bed, and transported through the second conduit and into the second thickener bed, and concentrated in the second thickener bed to form a second concentrate having 30 wt% solids or more.

[0007] During the transportation of an underflow or overflow from a flotation containment or flotation circuit through a conduit and toward and even into a thickener bed. some of the solids present in the underflow or overflow can become deposited at a slurry*conduit interface: that is, solids are deposited onto the interior surface of a conduit contacted by the overflow or underflow during transit thereof between a troth flotation cell and a thickener bed. In particular, agglomerated particulate solids that are not stably dispersed in an overflow or an underflow may ‘'fall out” of the overflow or underflow and become deposited on the interior surface of a conduit during transportation thereof through the conduit, that is, before reaching the thickener bed. Such deposited solids can remain associated with the conduit interior surface, building up over time and leading to severe problems for operators in maintaining reasonable rates of overflow and / or underflow transport. Eventually, the deposited solids can block or substantially block the conduit, and the entire processing system must be shut down to clear the blockage. Further, additional deposition can occur in the area of the thickener bed proximal to the inlet that receives the overflow or underflow from the conduit, causing further problems with operation of the equiμment within thickener bed, such as over-torquing of rakes used to agitate the contents and direct slurry flow therein.

[0008] It is believed that use of larger particle sizes of a comminuted ore, high density' and / or variable densi ty of particles within an underflow or an overflow, and increased throughput, or rate of flow, of an underflow or overflow through a conduit may al l be contributing factors in deposition of solids from partitioned underflows and overflows. Regarding large particle size, some particles having one or more dimensions of e.g. 2(K) microns, or up to 250 microns, or even up to .300 microns, or larger can be found in particulates (that is, groups of particles) having much smaller average or median particle size; and these particles contribute to deposition during transportation through a conduit since they tend to drop out of the moving flow and remain within the conduit. Regarding high density ore particulates, ore particulates having overall specific aravitv of more than about 4.0 wcirr’, such as 4.5 g / cmJor more contribute to deposition during transportation through a conduit because since these particles cannot be supported by the moving flow of the lower-density water. Regarding low slurry density, an overflow or underflow having an overall specific gra vity of less than 2 g / cm\ such as 1 .8 g / cm ' or less, or e ven 1 .5 g / cm-’ or less, contribute to deposition during transportation through a conduit.

[0009] These problems are particularly severe in the case of tailings overflows andunderflows (collectively, tailings or tailings flows), to the extent that the industry has assigned a special name to the problem: “sanding”. The recognized severity of sanding may relate to the chemical diversity of the tailings flows when compared to mineral product flows, which commonly target one chemical specie or a narro w range of similar chemical species.Chemical species present in one or more gangues related to one or more mineral ores include silica and a range of silicate minerals including aluminosilicates e.g. feldspar, clays, etc.; carbonates such as calcium carbonate, e.g. calcite; sulfides such as iron sulfide e.g. pyrite; oxides such as iron oxide; and others present in a variety of crystalline and non-crystalline forms. The variety of materials present in a tailings flow provides density differences between different particles, and more opportunities for destabilization through chemical associations and / or charge destabilization than does a mineral product flow.

[0010] The problem of buildup of deposited solids within the conduits used to transport froth flotation overflows and underflows from froth flotation cells into thickener beds, including the problem of sanding, remains largely unaddressed and therefore responsible for significantly reduced productivity in many mineral orc processing facilities,

[0011] Accordingly, there remains a need in the mineral ore processing industry to solve the problem of deposition of particulate products by froth flotation overflows and underflows prior to concentration thereof. In particular, there remains a need in the industry to reduce or eliminate deposition of particul ate products (mineral product or gangue) onto conduit interior surfaces during transportation of partitioned flows therethrough. The need remains most acute in the ease of sanding caused by tailings flows, in particular tailings flows obtained from froth flotation partitioning of copper / moly ores.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Described herein are treated partitioned flows comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of a mixture of a cationic polymer with a partitioned flow, where the partitioned flow is an underflow or an overflow from a froth flotation of a mineral ore. Also described herein are methods of treating a partitioned flow from a froth flotation of a mineral ore, the methods comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of adding a cationic polymer to the partitioned flow to form a treated partitioned flow, where the partitioned flow is an underflow or an overflow collected from a froth flotation of a mineral ore. The settling rate of a particulate product present in a treated partitioned flow is reduced 10% to 100% compared to the rate of setling of the particulate product from the same partitioned flow in the absence of the cationic polymer.

[0013] In embodiments, the partitioned flow is an underflow or an overflow that is collected, that is, physically separated from a froth flotation of a mineral ore selected from a gold ore, a silver ore, an iron ore, an alumina ore (bauxite ore), a copper ore, a molybdenum ore, a sulfide ore, a lead ore, a zinc ore, or a copper / moly ore. In embodiments, the partitioned flow includes 20 wt% or less of a particulate product. In some embodiments, theparticulate product comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a mineral product; in other embodiments, the particulate product comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a gangue,[0014 J In embodiments, the cationic polymer comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a polyfdiallyldimetiiylammonrum halide). In embodiments, the cationic polymer is added to a partitioned flow in an amount of 1 pμm to 1000 pμm by weight, based on the weight of particula te product in the partitioned flow, to form the treated partitioned flow.

[0015] In embodiments, a treated partitioned flow is disposed within a containment or a conduit In a preferred embodiment, the conduit is a raceway extending between, and in fluid communication with, a froth flotation cell and a thickener bed; and the treated partitioned flow disposed therein is transported within the raceway in a direction from the froth flotation cell toward the thickener bed. In embodiments, the transporting includes moving the treated partitioned flow through the conduit at a rate of 100 metric tons to 10,000 metric tons of the particulate product per hour. In embodiments, the transporting includes moving the treated partitioned flow through the conduit at a rate of about 10 cni / s to about 20 m's.

[0048] Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Although the present disclosure provides references to preferred embodiments, persons skilled tn the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims.

[0018] Definitions

[0019] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein ha ve the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In case of conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control. Preferred methods and materials are described below, although methods and materials similar or equivalent io those described herein can be used in practice or testing of the present invention. All publications, patent applications, patents and other references mentioned herein are incorporated byreference in their entirety. The materials, methods, and examples disclosed herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

[0020] The terms "comprise(s),’* "include(s)," "having," "has,’' "can," "contain(s)," and variants thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that do not prechide the possibility of additional acts or structures. The singular forms "a," "and" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The present disclosure also contemplates other embodiments "comprising,’’ "consisting of and "consisting essentially of," the embodiments or elements presented herein, whether explicitly set forth or not,

[0021] As used herein, the term "optional’’ or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may but need not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances in which it does not,

[0022] As used herein, the term "about" modifying, for example, t he quantity of an ingredient in a composition, concentration, volume, process temperature, process time, yield, flow rate, pressure, and like values, and ranges thereof, employed in describing the embodimen ts of the disclosure, refers to vari ation in the numerical quantity that can occur, for example, through typical measuring and handling procedures used for making compounds, compositions, concentrates or use formulations; through inadvertent error in these procedures; through differences in the manufacture, source , or purity of starting materials or ingredients used to carry out the methods, and like proximate considerations. The term "about" also encompasses amounts that differ due to aging of a formulation with a particular initial concentration or mixture, and amounts that differ due to mixing or processing a formulation with a particular initial concentration or mixture. Where modified by the term "about" the claims appended hereto include equivalents to these quantities. Further, where “about” is employed to describe a range of values, for example “about I to 5” the recitation means “1 to 5” and ‘"about I to about 5” and “ I to about 5” and “about I to 5” unless speci Really limited by context

[0023] As used herein, the term ’’substantially" means ’’consisting essentially of', as that term is construed in U.S. patent law, and includes "consisting of* as that term is construed in U.S. patent law. For example, a solution that is "substantially free" of a specified compound or material may be free of that compound or material, or may have a minor amount of that compound or material present, such as through unintended contamination, side reactions, or incomplete purification. A “minor amount” may be a trace.an unmeasurable amount, an amount that does not interfere with a value or property, or some other amount as provided in context. A composition that has “substantially only" a provided list of components may consist of only those components, or have a trace amount of some other component present, or have one or more additional components that do not materially affect the properties of the composition. Additionally, “substantially" modifying, for example, the type or quantity of an ingredient in a composition, a property, a measurable quantity, a method, a value, or a range, employed in describing the embodiments of the disclosure, refers to a variation that does not. affect the overall recited composition, property, quantity, method, value, or range thereof in a manner that negates an intended composition, property, quantity, method, value, or range. Where modified by the term ’’substantially" the claims appended hereto include equivalents according to this definition.

[0024] As used herein, any recited ranges of values contemplate all values within the range and are to be construed as support for claims reciting any sub-ranges having endpoints which are real number values within the recited range. By way of a hypothetical illustrative example, a disclosure in this specification of a range of from J to 5 shall be considered to support claims to any of the following ranges; 1-5; 1-4; 1-3; 1-2; 2-5; 2-4; 2-3; 3-5; 3-4; and 4-5.

[0025] Discussion

[0026] In first embodiments herein, a composition comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a partitioned flow obtained from a froth flotation of a mineral ore, combined with a cationic polymer.

[0027] In any one or more first embodiments herein, the partitioned flow is obtained by subjecting a comminuted mineral ore to froth flotation; and collecting the partitioned flow therefrom. In any one or more first embodiments herein, the partitioned flow is an overflow collected from a froth flotation. In any one or more first embodiments herein, the partitioned flow is an underflow collected from a froth flotation. A mineral ore includes a valuable metal product in a commercially valuable concentration therein. In any one or more first embodiments herein, the mineral ore is selected from a gold ore, a silver orc, an iron ore, an alumina ore (that is, a bauxite ore), a copper ore, a molybdenum ore, a sulfide ore, a lead ore, a zinc ore, or a copper / moly ore. A sulfide ore is a mineral ore including a valuable metal product that is present in the ore as a metal sulfide and / or a metal disulfide,

[0028] In any one or more first embodiments herein, the mineral ore is comminuted prior to the partitioning, wherein the comminuted mineral ore is a particulate having an average particle size of 500 μm or less, for example between 1 μm and 500 μm, such as 1 μmto 50 μm, or 50 μm to 100 μm, or 100 μm to 150 μm, or 150 μm to 200 gm, or 200 gm to 250 μm, or 250 μm to 300 μm, or 300 μm to 350 μm, or 350 gm to 400 gm, or 400 gm to 450 μm, or 450 μm to 500 μm.

[0029] In any one or more first embodiments herein, a partitioned flow is an overflow or an underflow from a froth flotation of a mineral ore. In any one or more first embodiments herein, the partitioned flow includes about 1 wt% to about 20 wt % of a particulate product of the froth flotation in a medium, that is, about 20 wt% of the particulate product or less and about 80 wt% to about 99 wt% of the medium. For example, in any one or more first embodiments herein, the partitioned flow includes 1 wt% to 20 wt%, or 5 wt% to 20 wt%, or 10 wt% to 20 wt%, or 1 wt% to 15 wi%, or 5 wt% to 15 wt%, or 5 wt% to 10 wt%, or 10 wt% to 15 wt%, or 15 wt% to 20 wt%, or 1 wt% to 3 wt%, or 3 wt% to 5 wt%, or 1 wt% to 5 wt% of the particulate product in a medium. In any one or more first em bodiments herein, a partitioned flow includes a particulate product of the froth flotation having an average particle size of 500 μm or less, for example between 1 μm and 500 μm, such as 1 μm to 50 μm, or 50 μm to 100 μm, or 100 μm to 150 μm, or 150 μm to 200 μm, or 200 μm to 250 μm, or 250 μm to 300 μm, or 300 μm to 350 μm, or 350 μm to 400 μm, or 400 μm to 450 μm, or 450 μm to 500 μm.100301 In any one or more first embodiments herein, the particulate product comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of either a gangue or a mineral product In any one or more first embodiments herein, the mineral product is the value mineral product that is the target of the froth flotation, and the gangtie is the waste product separated from die mineral product during the froth flotation. In embodiments herein, “tailings” or “tailings flow” refers to a partitioned flow that is either an overflow or an underflow from a froth flotation of a mineral ore, and includes 1 wt% to 20 wt % of a gangue in a medium. In any one or more first embodiments herein, the tailings flow is a sulfide ore tailings flow.(0031] In any one or more first embodiments herein, the medium is an aqueous medium comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of water. In any one or more first embodiments herein, the aqueous medium includes a cosolvent present in a mass or volume ratio of 1 : 1000 to 1: 1 cosol vent: water, for example 1 : 1000 to 1 : 5 , or 1:1000 to 1 : 10, or J : 1000 to 1 :20, or 1 : 1000 to 1 :30, or 1 : 1000 to 1 :40, or 1 ; 1000 to 1 :50, or 1 : 1000 to 1 : 100, or 1 :100 to 1: 1, or 1 :100 to 1 :5, or 1: 100 to 1 : 10, or 1 :100 to 1:20, or 1 :100 to 1 :30, or 1 :100 to 1:40, or 1 :100 to 1 :50, or 1:50 to 1 :1 , or 1 :50 to 1 :5, or 1 :50 to 1:10, or 1 :50 to 1 :20, or 1 :50 to 1:30, or 1:50 to 1:40, or 1:20 to 1 : 1, or 1:20 to 1 :5, or 1 :20 to 1: 10; or a mass ratio of 1 : 1000 to 1 :5, or 1 :1000 to 1: 10, or 1: 1000 to 1 :20, or 1 : 1000 to 1 :30, or 1: 1000 to 1 :40, or1 : 1000 fo 1 50, or 1 : 1000 to 1 :100. or 1 : 100 to 1 :1, or 1:1(X) to 1 :5, or 1:100 to 1: 10, or 1 : 100 to 1 :20, or 1: 100 to 1 :30, or 1 : 100 io 1 ;40, or 1:100 to 1 :50, or 1 .50 to 1:1 , or 1 .50 to 1:5, or 1 :50 to 1 : 10, or 1 :50 to 1:20, or 1:50 to 1 :30, or 1 :50 to 1 .40. or 1 :20 to 1: 1 , or 1 :20 to 1 :5, or 1 :20 to 1 : 10 Suitable cosolvents include water-miscible C1-C8 alkanols, water-miscible ketones, water-miscible aldehydes, water-miscible esters, water-miscible glycols, or water- miscible glycol ethers, where “water-miscible” means that the cosolvent is soluble in water over the range of 1:99 to 99: 1 cosolvent:water by weight or by volume.

[0032] In any one or more first embodiments herein, the medium is suitably charac terized as having a pH of about 7 to about 14 or about 9 to about 12, for example 7.0 io 14.0, or 8,0 to 14.0, or 9.0 io 14.0, or 10.0 to 14,0, or 11.0 to 14.0, or 12.0 io 14.0, or 7.0 to 13.0, or 7.0 to 12.0, or 7.0 to 10,0, or 7.0 to 9.0, or 7.0 to 8.0, or 8.0 to 13.0, or 9,0 to 12.0, or 9.0 to 1 1 .0, or 7.0 to 7.5, or 7.5 to 8.0, or 8,0 to 8.5, or 8.5 to 9,0, or 9.0 to 9.5, or 9.5 to 10.0, or 10.0 to 10.5, or 10.5 to I I .0, or 1 1.0 to 1 1.5, or 1 1 .5 to 12.0, or 12.0 to 12.5, or 12.5 to 13.0, or 13.0 to 13.5, or 13.5 to 14.0.

[0033] In any one or more first embodiments herein, the cationic polymer is a compound ha ving two or more repeat units covalently bonded to each other, further wherein at least one of the repeat units includes a cationic moiety covalently bonded thereto and further wherein the polymer has a net cationic charge. Stated differently, the net ionic charge of all ionic moiedes covalently bonded io the cationic polymer must be +1 or greater. The cationic polymer is synthetic, or derived from natural sources, or is a synthetically modified polymer derived from natural sources. In embodiments, the cationic moiety is amine or ammonium. In some embodiments, the cationic polymer is crosslinked. In some embodiments, the cationic polymer is a combination of two or more chemically different cationic polymers; chemical differences include one or more of; molecular weight, an average molecular weight, repeat unit chemi stry / structure, degree of branching, degree of crosslinking, net charge of the polymer.

[0034] In any one or more first embodiments herein, the cationic polymer comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a homopolymcr or a copolymer of a diallyldimethylammonium halide. In any one or more first embodiments herein, the cationic polymer comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a homopolymcr or a copolymer of diaUyldimeihylaninionhtm chloride (DADMAC). In any one or more first embodiments herein, the cationic polymer consists essentially of, or consists of a DADM'AC homopolymcr. In some embodiments, the cationic polymer is characterized by a molecular weight of about 1000 g / mol to about I xl0?g / inol, when the molecular weight is a weight average molecularweight and / or wherein the molecular weight is measured by gel permeation chromatography; for exampkt about 2000 g / mol io 1x10' g / mol, or about 3000 g / moi to 1x10 ' g / mol, or about 5000 g / mol to lx 107g / mol, or about 7000 g / mol to IxlO7g / moi, or about 10,000 g / mol to 1x 107g / mol, or about 30,000 g / mol to IxlO7g / mol, or about 50,000 g / mol to IxlO7g / mol, or about 70,000 g / mol to Ix lO7g / mol, or about 100,000 g / mol to Ix lO7g / moi, or about 100,000 g / mol to 1x106’’ g / mol, or about 1000 g / mol to IxlO'1g / moi, or about 30,000 g / mol to IxlO6g / mol, or about 40,000 g / mol to IxlO6g / moi, or about 5000 g / mol to 1x106g / mol, or about 10,000 g / mol to 1x10° g / mol, or about 50,000 g / mol to 1x106g / mol, or about 100,000 g / mol to 1 xl 0° g / mol, or about 200,000 g / mol to 1 xl 0* g / mol, or about 300,000 g / mol to 1 xllfi g / mol, or about 1000 g / mol to 500,000 g / moi, or about 5,000 g / mol to 500,000 g / mol, or about 10,000 g / mol to 500,000 g / moi, or about 50,000 g / moi to 500,000 g / mol, or about 100,000 g / mol to 500,000 g / mol, or 1000 g / mol to 5000 g / mol, or 5000 g / mol to 10,000 g / mol, or 10,000 g / moi to 50,000 g / mol, or 50,000 g / mol to 100,000 g / moi, or 100,000 g / mol to 150,000 g / mol; or 150,000 g / moi to 200,000 g / mol; or 250,000 g / mol to 500,000 g / mol; or 500,000 g / mol to 1x106g / mol, or I xlO'1g / mol to 1.x 107g / mol, or about 10,000 g / mol to about 300,000 g / moi, or about 10,000 g / mol to about 200,000 g / mol, or about 100,000 g / mol to about 200,000 g / moi, or about 100,000 g / mol to about 500,000 g / mol, or about 200,000 g / mol to 1x106g / mol.

[0035] In any one or more first embodiments herein, the cationic polymer includes one or more anionic monomer residues such as those bearing carboxyiate, phosphonate, or sulfonate moieties covalently bonded thereto, wherein the total or net charge of the polymer is +1 or greater. Stated differently, the sum of anionic and cationic moicties bonded to the cationic polymer is +1 or greater. In one or more first embodiments herein, the cationic polymer includes one or more nonionic monomer residues such as those bearing amide, imide, ester, ether, olefinic, or other moieties covalently bonded thereto, wherein the total or net charge of the polymer is + 1 or greater.

[0036] In any one or more first embodiments herein, the cationic polymer is present in a treated partitioned flow it) an amount of about 0, 1 pμm to about 1000 pμm by weight of the particulate product (mineral product or gangue) present in the partitioned flow, for example 0.1 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 1 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 10 pμm to 1000 pμm. or 50 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 100 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 200 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 300 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 400 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 500 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 600 pμm to 1000 ppm, or 700 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 800 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 900 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 0.01 pμm to 500 pμm, or 0.1 pμm to 500 pμm, or 1 pμm to 500 pμm, or 10 pμm to 500 pμm, or 100 pμm to 500 pμm,or 200 pμm to 500 pμm, or 300 pμm to 500 pμm, or 400 pμm to 500 pμm, or 0.01 pμm to 0, 1 pμm, or 0.1 pμm to 1 pμm, or I pμm to 2 pμm, or 2 pμm to 3 pμm, or 3 pμm to 4 pμm, or 4 pμm to 5 pμm, or 5 pμm to 6 pμm, or 6 pμm to 7 pμm, or 7 pμm to 8 pμm, or 8 pμm to 9 pμm, or 9 pμm to 10 pμm, or 10 pμm to 12 pμm, or 12 pμm to 14 pμm, or 14 pμm to 16 pμm, or 16 pμm to 18 pμm, or 18 pμm to 20 pμm, or 1 pμm to 20 pμm, or 5 pμm to 20 pμm, or 5 pμm to 10 pμm, or 10 pμm to 15 pμm, or 15 pμm to 20 pμm, or 10 pμm to 20 pμm, or 20 pμm to 30 pμm, or 30 pμm to 40 pμm, or 40 pμm to 50 pμm, or 50 pμm to 60 pμm, or 60 pμm to 70 pμm, or 70 pμm to 80 pμm, or 80 pμm to 90 pμm, or 90 pμm to 100 pμm, or J 00 pμm to 200 pμm, or 200 pμm to 300 pμm, or 300 pμm to 400 pμm, or 400 pμm to 500 pμm, or 500 pμm to 600 pμm, or 700 pμm to 800 pμm, or 800 pμm to 900 pμm, or 900 pμm to 1000 pμm, or 0.1 pμm to 100 pμm, or 1 pμm to 100 pμm, or 10 pμm to 100 pμm, or 20 pμm to 100 pμm, or 30 pμm to 100 pμm, or 40 pμm to J 00 pμm, or 50 pμm to 100 pμm, or 60 pμm to 100 pμm, or 70 pμm to I 00 pμm, or 80 pμm to 100 pμm, or 100 pμm to 110 pμm, or 1 10 pμm to 120 pμm, ar 120 pμm to 130 pμm, or 130 pμm to 140 pμm, or 140 pμm to 150 pμm, ar 150 pμm to 200 pμm, or 200 pμm to 250 pμm, or 250 pμm to 300 pμm, or 300 pμm to 350 pμm, or 350 pμm to 400 pμm, or 400 pμm to 450 pμm, or 450 pμm to 500 pμm, or 500 pμm to 550 pμm, or 550 pμm to 600 pμm, or 600 pμm to 650 pμm, or 650 pμm to 700 pμm, or 700 pμm to 750 pμm, or 750 pμm to 800 pμm, or 800 pμm to 850 pμm, or 850 pμm to 900 ppm, or 900 pμm to 950 pμm, or 950 pμm to 1000 pμm, by weight of the particulate product in the partitioned flow.

[0037] As noted above, a partitioned flow collected from a flotation containment, or flotation cell, or a flotation circuit, is applied to a condui t and transported therein toward a concentration containment, or thickener bed. The transporting of the partitioned flow through the conduit may be obtained by gravity, aided by a continuous supply of partitioned flow entering into the conduit as a result of the configuration of a specific mineral ore processing system. In some cases, in addition to or instead of a gravity-based flow, an applied force is applied to the partitioned flow to urge the flow through the conduit, for example by use of a pump, often a centrifugal pump. During the transporting of a partitioned flow through a conduit, some of the particulate product present in the partitioned flow can become deposited onto the interior surface of the conduit contacted by the partitioned flow during transit thereof between a froth flotation cell and a thickener bed. Such deposited solids can remain associated with the conduit interior surface, building up over time and leading to severe problems for operators in maintaining reasonable rates of overflow and / or underflow transport.

[0038] Unexpectedly, we have found that the setling rate of a particulate product from any one or more treated partitioned flows in accordance with first embodiments herein is reduced when compared to the settling rate of the particulate product from the partitioned flow - that is, the partitioned flow in the absence of the cationic polymer. “Setling rate” or “rate of settling” herein refers to the comparative amount of gravity-based solids accumulation obtained by a partitioned flow that is undisturbed within a containment for a set period of time, as is measured in accordance with the following static settling test or a variation thereof that is designed to measure solids settled from an aqueous medium. A volume of a partitioned flow is added to a flat-bottomed cylindrical column fitted with a plunger that is not impeded by the walls of the cylinder, such that the plunger can be dropped into the empty cylinder to contact the cylinder bottom solely by force of gravity. A material to be tested for efficacy in preventing setling is added to the cylinder in an amount based on the weight of solids present in the partitioned flow; and the plunger is engaged with the cylinder to mix the material thoroughly with the partitioned flow. The plunger is then removed from the cylinder, and the cylinder is allowed to stand undisturbed for 15 minutes. At the end of the 15 minutes, the plunger is dropped into the cylinder from the surface of theundisturbed contents; if the dropped plunger reaches the bottom of the cy finder, no settling has occurred in the 15 minutes. Otherwise, settled solids at the bottom of the cylinder impede the plunger from reaching the bottom; and the distance between the bottom of the cylinder interior and the bottom of the plunger after dropping it into the cylinder approximates a vol ume of solids settled in the cylinder. The relative rate of settling is determined by repeating the foregoing test, varying materials added and / or amount of material added to the partitioned flow for testing; and comparing the observed amount of settled solids against a control, where no material added to the partitioned flow in the cylinder.

[0039] In accordance with the foregoing static settling test, we have found that the setling rate of a particulate product from any one or more treated partitioned flows of first embodiments herein is reduced by 10% to 100% compared to the settling rate of the particulate product from the partitioned flow in the absence of the cationic polymer; that is, a settling rate of a treated partitioned flow of any one or more first embodiments herein is reduced by 10% to 20%, 20% to 30%, 30% to 40%, 40% to 50%, 50% to 60%, 60% to 70%, 70% to 80%, 80% to 90%, 90% to 95%, 95% to 97%, 97% to 99%, 99% to 99.9%, or 99.9% to 100%; about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 35%, about 40%, about 45%, about 50%, about 55%, about 60%, about 65%, about 70%, about 75%, about80%, about 85%, about 90%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%, or about 100% compared to the partitioned flow alone.|0O4O| The foregoing reduced settling nites are obtained, in any one or more first embodiments herein, for partitioned flows obtained from comminuted ores having a density of about I g / cm3to about 10 g / cm3, for example 1 g / cnr’ to 9 g / cnr3, or 1 g / cm* to 8 g / em5, org / cnr3to 10 g / cnr3. Separately, the foregoing reduced settling rales are obtained, in any one or more first embodiments herein, for partitioned flows having a density of about .1.0 g / cnr to about 5.0 g / 'cm’, such as I g / cnr’ to 5 g / cm3, or 1 g / 'cm’ to 4 g / cm’, or 1 g / cm3to 3 g / cm’, or 1 g / cm3to 2 g / cm3, 2 g / cnr3to 5 g / cnr3, or 3 g / cm3to 5 g / cm3, or 4 g / cm3to 5 g / cnr3, or J g / cnr’ to 2 g / cm-’, or 2 g / cm5to 3 g / cm5, or 3 g / cnr3to 4 g / cnr3, or 4 g / cm3to 5 g / cm3. Separately, the foregoing reduced settling rates are obtained, in any one or more first embodiments herein, for partitioned flows wherein the particulate product of the froth flotation has an average particle size of 500 μm or less, for example between 1 μm and 500 μm, such as 1 μm to 50 μm, or 50 μm to 100 μm, or 100 gm to 150 gm, or 150 p.m to 200 μm, or 200 μm to 250 μm, or 2.50 μm to 300 μm, or 300 μm to 350 μm, or 350 pm to 400 μm, or 400 μm io 450 μm, or 450 μm to 500 μm. The foregoing reduced settling rates are obtained, in any one or more first embodiments herein, for partitioned flows obtained from comminuted ores having a density of 4,0 g / cmsor more, such as 4 g / cm3to 10 g / cnr3, or 5 g / cm’ to 10 g / cm3, or8 g / em5to 9 g / em3, or 9 g / cnr3to 10 g / 'cm-’; and / or from comminuted ores that form partitioned flows having a density of 2,0 g / cm3or less, such as 1 g / 'cm-’ io 2 g / cm’, and / or from partitioned flows wherein the particulate product of the froth flotation including particles having an average particle size and / or having at least one dimension that is about 200 μm or greater, such as 200 μm to 250 μm, or 250 gm to 300 μm, or 300 μm to 350 μm, or 350 μm to 400 μm, or 400 μm to 450 μm, or 450 μm to 500 μm.

[0041] Further, we have found that a reduced rate of settling measured by the foregoing test, translates to a similarly reduced rate of deposition of solids by the partitionedflow onto a conduit surface during transportation of a partitioned flow therethrough.Accordingly, we have found that the deposition rate of a particulate product if ora any one or more treated partitioned flows of first embodiments herein during transportation thereof through a conduit is reduced by 10% to 100% compared to the deposition rate of the partitioned flow in the absence of the cationic polymer; that is, a deposition rate of a treated partitioned flow of any one or more first embodiments herein is reduced by 10% to 20%, 20% to 30%, 30% to 40%. 40% to 50%, 50% to 60%, 60% to 70%, 70% to 80%, 80% to 90%, 90% to 95%, 95% to 97%, 97% to 99%, 99% to 99.9%, 99.9% to 100%; or about 10%. about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 35%, about 40%, about 45%, about 50%, about 55%, about 60%, about 65%, about 70%, about 75%, about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%, or about 100% compared to the deposition rate of the partitioned flow alone. Notably, we have found that the foregoing results are achieved at very low concentrations of the cationic polymer in the treated partitioned flow; I pμm to 1000 pμm by weight based on the weight of the particulate product in the partitioned flow, as noted above, is sufficient to obtain at least a 10% reduction in deposition of particulate product within a conduit, Often, 3 pμm to 100 pμm, and in many first embodiments herein 5 pμm to 20 pμm by weight of the cationic polymer based on the weight of the particulate product in the partitioned flo w is optimally present in a treated partitioned flow, though the amount required to obtain 10%! - 100% reduction in deposition varies in accordance with the chemistry of the partitioned flow and the particle size of the particulate product therein. In some first embodiments herein, we have found that 10 pμm to 50 pμm by weight of a cationic polymer in a partitioned flow obtains 100% reduction in settling; in some such embodiments the partitioned flow is a tailings flow. In some such embodiments, the tailings flow is formed by partitioning a sulfide ore using froth flotation.

[0042] Accordingly, we have observed that a treated partitioned flow of any of first embodiments herein obtains a reduction of 10% to 100% in the rate of deposition of' solids during transportation thereof, when compared to the rate of deposition of solids by a partitioned flow during transportation thereof in the absence of the cationic polymer. In some such first embodiments, a treated partitioned flow comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of a partitioned flow combined with 1 pμm to 1000 pμm by weight of a cationic •polymer based on the weight of the particulate product present in the partitioned flow obtains a 100% reduced rate of setling and / or deposition; in some such embodiments the partitioned flow is a tailings flow. In some such embodiments, the tailings flow is formed by partitioning a sulfide ore using froth flotation. Where the partitioned flow is a tailings flow of a sulfideore flotation, a treated partitioned flow comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of the tailings flow of a sulfide ore flotation combined with 5 pμm to 100 pμm or even 5 pμm to 50 pμm by weight of a cationic polymer based on the weight of the particulate product obtains a 100” 4 reduced rate of settling and / or deposition.

[0043] In accordance with the foregoing, disclosed herein are second embodiments that are methods of treating a partitioned flow to form a treated partitioned flow, and transporting the treated partitioned flow through a conduit. In some second embodiments, a transported treated partitioned flow is further dispensed from the conduit into a thickener bed (concentrating containment), and concentrated to form a treated concentrate. In some second embodiments, the methods herein are useful for treating a partitioned flow that is a tailings flow. In some second embodiments, the methods herein are useful for treating a partitioned flow that is a tailings flow of a sulfide ore.

[0044] As noted above, a partitioned flow is obtained by partitioning, that is, subjecting a mineral orc to froth flotation; and physically separating an overflow from an underflow to form two partitioned flows: an overflow and an underflow. In any one or more second embodiments the partitioned flows are a mineral product flow and a tailings flow. In any one or more second embodiments herein, the mineral ore is selected from gold ores, silver ores, copper ores, sulfide ores, molybdenum ores, lead ores, zinc ores, or copper / moly orcs. In any one or more second embodiments herein, the mineral ore is comminuted, for example by grinding and / or milling, prior to partitioning by froth flotation, wherein a comminuted ore has an average particle size between 1 pm and 500 μm, such as 1 μm to 50 μm, or 50 μm to 100 μm, or 100 um to 150 μm, or 150 μm to 200 um, or 200 gm to 250 gm, or 250 μm to 300 μm, or 300 gm to 350 gm, or 350 μm to 400 μm, or 400 um to 450 um, or 450 μm to 500 μm,

[0045] In any one or more second embodiments herein a comminuted ore has a density of about 1 g / cnr to about 10 g / cm3, for example 1 g / cm3to 9 g / cnr’, or 1 g / em3to 8 g / cm3, or 1 g / cnr to 7 g / cnr’, or 1 g / em3to 6 g / cm3, or 1 g / cm3to 5 g / cm3, or 1 g / cm3to 4 g / cm3, or 1 g / cm3to 3 g / cnr’, or 1 g / cnr' to 2 g / cm3, or 1 g / cm3to 9 g / cm3, or 2 g / cm3to 10 g / cm3, or 2 g / cm3to 10 g / cm3, or 3 g / cm3to 10 g / cm3, or 4 g / cm3to 10 g / cm3, or 5 g / cm3to 10 g / cm3, or 6 g / cm3to 10 g / cm3, or 7 g / cm3to 10 g / cm3, or 8 g / cm3to 10 g / cm3, or 9 g / cm3to 10 g / cnr, or 1 g / cm3to 2 g / cm3, or 2 g / cm' to 3 g / cm', or 3 g / em3to 4 g / cm3, or 4 g / cm3to 5 g / cm3, or 5 g / cm3to 6 g / cm3, or 6 g / cm3to 7 g / cm3, or 7 g / cm3to 8 g / cm3, or 8 g / cm3to 9 g / cm3, or 9 g / cm3to 10 g / cm3.

[0046] In any one or more second embodiments herein, a method of treating a partitioned flow comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of adding any one or more cationic polymers of first embodiments herein to a partitioned flow as disclosed in first embodiments herein, to form a treated partitioned flow of any one of first embodiments herein. In some second embodiments herein, the adding of the one or more cationic polymers is accomplished by admixing one or more neat (that is, 100% solids) cationic polymers with a partitioned flow; in other second embodiments herein, adding the one or more cationic polymers is accomplished by admixing an aqueous cationic, polymer solution or dispersion with a partitioned flow. In some such embodiments, a cationic polymer solution or dispersion includes 10 wt% to 70 wt% total of one or more cationic polymers in an aqueous medium comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of water, often 25 wt% to 50 wt%, and in some embodiments about 30 wt% to about 40 wt% total of one or more cationic polymers in an aqueous medium comprising, consisting essentially of or consistin g of water.

[0047] In any one or more second embodiments herein, a partitioned flow has a density of about 1.0 g / cm-?to about 5.0 g / cnr’, such as 1 g / cm3to 5 g / cm3, or 1 g / cm3to 4 g / cnr’, or 1 g / cm3to 3 g / cm3, or 1 g / cm-’ to 2 g / cm-’, 2 g / cm3to 5 g / cm3, or 3 g / cm-’ to 5 g / cm-’, or 4 g / cm3to 5 g / cm3, or 1 g / cm3to 2 g / cnr, or 2 g / cm3to 3 g / cm3, or 3 g / cm-’ to 4 g / cm-’, or 4 g / cm3to 5 g / cm3, In any one or more second embodiments herein, a partitioned flow includes has an average particle size between 1 μm and 500 gm, such as .1 gm to 50 μm, or 50 μm to .1000 μm, or 100 um to 150 gm, or 150 gm to 200 gm, or 200 gm to 250 gm, or 250 gm to 300 μm, or 300 gm to 350 gm, or 350 gm to 400 gm, or 400 pm to 450 gm, or 450 μm to 500 μm.

[0048] In any one or more second embodiments herein, adding a cationic polymer to a partitioned flow is accomplished within a froth flotation cell, and prior to dispensing a collected overflow or underflow therefrom. In any one or more second embodiments herein, adding a cationic polymer to a partitioned flow is accomplished by directing a partitioned flow from a froth flotation cell to a conduit, and then pumping, injecting, or pouring one or more cationic polymers or a solution / dispersion thereof into the conduit proximal to the froth flotation cell; in some such embodiments, one or more additional mixing steps may be carried out, such as stirring. In any one or more second embodiments herein, the adding of one or more cationic polymers to a partitioned flow is accomplished as the partitioned flow is in process of exiting the flotation cell, and as it is being applied to a conduit, for example at a valve point or “gate” that facilitates dispensing of a collected partitioned flow into the conduit. In some second embodiments herein, after adding the cationic polymer to thepartitioned flow, the combined materials are mixed using static or active mixing, or by allowing the turbulence of the particaiate-Iaden flow to provide mixing of the cationic polymer with the partitioned flow to form the treated partitioned flow.

[0049] Accordingly, in any one or more second embodiments herein, a treated partitioned flow is applied to a conduit; or a partitioned flow is applied to the conduit and a cationic polymer is added to the partitioned flow within the conduit to form a treated partitioned flow. Accordingly, in any one or more second embodiments herein, the treated partitioned flow is transported through the conduit. In any one or more second embodiments herein, the conduit is a pipe or tube having an interior surface that contacts the treated partitioned flow. In any one or more second embodiments herein, a conduit comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a metal, a plastic , a rubber, a glass, a concrete, or a combination of two or more thereof. In some second embodiments herein, a conduit includes an interior surface comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of a concrete or a steel; ar a coating or lining material such as rubber, epoxy, or silicone appl ied to the interior of the conduit for control of abrasion thereof.

[0056] In some second embodiments herein, the conduit is a raceway extending between, and in fluid communication with, one or more froth flotation cells, and a thickener bed; and a treated partitioned flow is applied to the raceway and transported therein in a direction from the froth flotation cell(s) toward the thickener bed. In embodiments, the treated partitioned flow, including about I wt% to about 20 wt% of a particulate product as noted above, is transported through the raceway at a rate of about 10 cm / s to about 20 m / s, for example 10 cm / s to 10 m / s , or 10 cm / s to I m / s, or I m / s to 20 m / s, or I m / s to 10 m / s, or 10 cm / s to 50 cm / s, or 50 cm / s to 100 cm / s, or 100 cm / s to 200 cm / s, or 200 cm / s to 300 era's, or 300 cm / s to 500 cm / s, or 500 cm / s to 1 m / s, or I m / s to 2 m / s, or 2 m / s to 3 m / s, or 3 m / s to 4 m / s, or 4 m / s to 5 m / s, or 6 m / s to 7 m / s, or 7 m / s to 8 m / s, or 8 m / s to 9 m / s, or 9 m / s to 10 m / s, or 10 m / s to 11 m / s, or .11 m / s to 12 m / s, or 12 m / s to 13 m / s, or 13 m / s to .14 m / s, or 14 m / s to 15 m / s, or 15 m / s to .16 m / s, or 16 m / s to 17 m / s, or 17 m / s to 18 m / s, or 18 m / s to 19 m / s, or 19 m's to 2.0 m / s. In embodiments, the transporting of the treated partitioned flow through the raceway obtains a rate of about 100 metric tons to about 10,000 metric tons of the particulate product moving through the raceway per hour; hereinafter “tons” means metric tons -unless otherwise indicated. For example, in embodiments, the transporting of the treated partitioned flow through the raceway obtains a rate of 100 tons to 10,000 tons, or 100 tons to 9,000 tons, or 100 tons to 8,000 tons, or 100 tons to 7,000 tons, or 100 tons to 6,000 tons, or 100 tons to 5,000 tons, or 100 tons to 4,000 tons, or 100 tons to 3,000 tons, or 100toils to 2.01)0 tons, or 100 tons to 1 ,000 tons, or 300 tons to 10,000 tons, or 500 tons io 10,000 tons, or 1 ,000 tons to 10,000 tons, or 2,000 tons to 10,000 tons, or 3,1)00 tons to 10,000 tons, or 4,000 tons to 10,000 tons, or 5,000 tons to 10,000 tons, or 6,000 tons to 10,000 tons, or 7,000 tons to 10,000 tons, or 8,000 tons to 10,000 tons, or 9,000 tons to 10,000 tons, or 100 tons to 300 tons, or 300 tons to 500 tons, or 500 tons to 1,000 tons, or 1,000 tons to 2,000 tons, or 2,000 tons to 3,000 tons, or 3,000 tons to 4,000 tons, or 4,000 tons to 5,000 tons, or 5,000 tons to 6,000 tons, or 6,000 tons to 7,000 tons, or 7,000 tons to 8,000 tons, or 8,000 tons to 9,000 tons or 9,000 tons to 10,000 tons of particulate product moving through the raceway per hour.{0051 | As noted above, a partitioned flow from a flotation containment, or flotation cell, such as a flotation cell that is part of a flotation circuit, is applied to a raceway and transported therein toward a concentration containment, or thickener bed. In any one or more second embodiments herein, transporting of a treated partitioned flow through a raceway is obtained by gravity; in some such embodiments the transporting is further aided by a continuous tnass of partitioned flow (or treated partitioned flow) entering the raceway during a continuous froth flotation process, such as from a froth flotation circuit. In some second embodiments, an additional force is applied to a treated partitioned flow within a conduit or raceway, to urge the treated partitioned flow therethrough, for example by the use of a pump. Ln embodiments, a raceway comprises or consists essentially of a launder, or flume, wherein a sloping trough feature facilitates transportation; in some embodiments, transportation within a launder is promoted by rollers,(00521 Accordingly, in any one or more second embodiments herein, a method of transporting a treated partitioned flow comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of separating a mineral ore by froth flotation to form a first partitioned flow that is a mineral product flow and a second partitioned flow that is a tailings flow: combining the first partitioned flow with a cationic polymer to form a first treated partitioned flow; applying the first treated partitioned flow to a conduit; and transporting the first treated partitioned flow through the conduit. Further, in any one or more second embodiments herein, a method of transporting a treated partitioned flow comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of separating a mineral ore by froth flotation to form a first partitioned flow that is a mineral product flow and a second partitioned flow that is a tailings flow; combining the second partitioned flow with a cationic polymer to form a second treated partitioned flow; applying the second treated partitioned flow to a conduit; and transporting the second treated partitioned flow through the conduit. Additionally, in any one or more second embodimentsherein, a method of transporting a partitioned flow comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of separating a mineral ore by froth flotation to form a first partitioned flow that is a mineral product flow and a second partitioned flow that is a tailings flow; combining the first partitioned flow with a cationic polymer to form a first treated partitioned flow, applying the first treated partitioned flow to a first conduit, and transporting the first treated partitioned flow through the conduit; and combining the second partitioned flow with a cationic polymer to form a second treated partitioned flow, applying the second treated partitioned flow to a second conduit, and transporting the second treated partitioned flow through the second conduit.

[0053] Unexpectedly, we have found that during foe transporting of a treated partitioned flow through a conduit in accordance with any one or snore second embodiments herein, foe deposition rate of a particulate product from a treated partitioned flow is reduced, when compared to the deposition rate of the particulate product from the partitioned flow — that is, foe partitioned flow in the absence of the cationic polymer. As noted above, we have found that a reduced rate of settling measured by the static settling test outlined above translates into a similarly reduced rate of deposition of particulate product onto a conduit surface during transportahon of a partitioned flow. Accordingly, we have found that during transportation of a treated partitioned flow, the deposition rate of a particulate product therefrom is reduced by 10% to 100% compared to the deposition rate of the particulate product from the partitioned flow in the absence of foe cationic polymer. Accordingly, a deposition rate of a treated partitioned flow of any one or more first embodiments herein during transporta tion thereof is reduced by 10% to 20%, 20% to 30%, 30% to 40%, 40% to 50%, 50% to 60%, 60% to 70%, 70% to 80%, 80% to 90%, 90% to 95%, 95% to 97%, 97% to 99%, 99% to 99,9%, or 99.9% to 100%; about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 35%, about 40%, about 45%, about 50%, about 55%, about 60%, about 65%, about 70%, about 75%, about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%, or about 100% compared to the deposi tion rate of foe partitioned flow during transportation thereof.

[0054] In accordance with the methods of any one or more second embodiments herein, 1 pμm to 1000 pμm of a cationic polymer is added to a partitioned flow that is a sulfide overflow, a sulfide underflow, a tailings underflow, a tailings overflow, a molybdenum overflow, a molybdenum underflow, a copper overflow, a copper underflow, a copper / moly overflow, a copper / moly underflow, a lead overflow, a lead underflow, a zinc overflow, or a zinc underflow to form a treated sulfide overflow, treated sulfide underflow,treated tailings underflow, treated tailings overflow, treated molybdenum overflow, treated molybdenum underflow, treated copper overflow, treated copper underflow, treated copper / moly overflow, treated copper / moly underflow, treated lead overflow, treated lead underflow, treated zinc overflow, or treated zinc underflow, where the amount of the cationic polymer added is based on the weight of particulate product (mineral product or gangue) present in the overflow or the underflow. The treated sulfide overflow, treated sulfide underflow, treated tailings underflow, treated tailings overflow, treated molybdenum overflow, treated molybdenum underflow, treated copper overflow, treated copper underflow, treated copper / moly overflow, treated copper / moly underflow, treated lead overflow, treated lead underflow, treated zinc overflow, or treated zinc underflow is transported through a conduit. In each of the foregoing examples, during transportation thereof, the deposition rate of a particulate product from the treated underflow or overflow is reduced by 10% to 100% compared to the deposition rate of the particulate product from the partitioned flow in the absence of the cationic poly mer,10055] In any one or more second embodiments herein, the foregoing methods further include dispensing a transported treated partitioned flow from a conduit into a thickener bed (concentration containment); and conceiitrating the treated partitioned flow within the thickener bed to form a treated concentrate, in any one or more such second embodiments, concentrating is accomplished by sedimentation, applied gravitational force (cyclone or centrifuge), e vaporation, filtration, or a combination of two or more thereof In any one or more second embodiments herein, a treated partitioned flow dispensed into a thickener bed does not undergo increased deposition or setling of particulate product in the thickener bed; that is, the treated partitioned flows of first embodiments are stable with respect to the reduction of settling or deposition, and the partitioned flows are not rendered unstable by the presence of the cationic polymer. Accordingly, after the period of time between forming a treated partitioned flow in accordance with any one of second embodiments herein, and dispensing the treated partitioned flow into a thickener bed, the particulate products do not obtain a flocculation response, or obtain any settling or deposition in the presence of the cationic polymer. Accordingly, the thickener bed equiμment, such as rakes used to move the treated partitioned flows within the thickener bed during concentration thereof, are able to operate without impedance from settled or deposited particulate products accumulating on the surfaces thereof, when a treated partitioned flow is applied thereto. In this respect, the concentrating of a treated partitioned flow in accordance with any of second embodiments herein, obtain the same benefits as the transporting of a treated partitioned flow in accordancewith any of second embodiments herein: reduction or elimination of settled or deposited particulate products obtained in both the conduit and the thickener bed improve operability and reduce downtime for cleaning; and in the case of the thickener bed, a furtiter benefi t of improved operability of rakes and / or other concentrating apparatuses is gained.10056] In any one or more second embodiments herein, the treated partitioned concentrates formed within the thickener bed are compositionally differentiated from the treated partitioned flows by the concentration of particulate product therein. A treated partitioned concentrate, or a partitioned concentrate (in the absence of the cationic polymer) includes at least 30% solids by weight and is up to 80% solids by weight, for example 40% to 80%, or 40% to 70%, or 50% to 80%, or 50% io 70%, or 55% to 65% solids by weight, wherein the solids comprise or consist essentially of a particuiate product, that is, a mineral product or a gangue. We have found that the treated concentrates do not undergo deposition or settling of particulate product in the thickener bed; that is, the concentrates are not rendered unstable by the cationic polymer, and accordingly the particulate products do not obtain a flocculation response, or any settling or deposition in the presence of the cationic polymer, even in a high solids (> 30 wt% particulate product solids) concentrate thereof.|0057| In any one or more second embodiments herein, the stability of the treated concentrates is sufficient to obviate the addition of conventional thickener additive, conventionally applied to a partitioned flow for the purpose of Increasing stability of a partitioned flow during concentration thereof to reduce the deposition or settling of particulate products within the thickener bed and allowing a flow of concentrate to be transported from the thickener bed to a different location tor further treatment, storage, or disposal (depending on whether the partitioned flow is a mineral product flow or a tailings flow). For example, a treated tailings flow and a treated tailings concentrate formed using any one or more methods of second embodiments herein may suitably exclude lime, which is a common thickener additive added to tailings flows to reduce the deposition or settling of gangue solids within a raceway as well as a thickener bed -* termed “sanding” as noted above. The treated tailings flows and treated tailings concentrates formed using the methods of second embodiments herein obtain reduced or eliminated sanding, thereby obviating the need to use additional additives to improve the stability of a tailings flow during transportation; and / or thickening thereof. Accordingly, the treated tailings flows and treated tailings concentrates of first and second embodiments herein further suitably exclude lime or another thickener additive for reducing settling and / or deposition of tailings solids onto conduit and thickener bed surfaces.

[0058] The following Experimental section provides exemplary findings in accord with the foregoing, without being limiting in any way.

[0059] EXPERIMENTAL SECTION

[0060] Example 1

[0061] A copper / moly tailings flow was obtained from a copper / moly ore processing facility where severe sanding by the tailings flow had been observed in the raceway between the froth flotation circuit and the tailings flow thickener bed. The following Static Settling Test was carried out on the tailings flow. A 1000mL flat-bottomed cylindrical column was fitted with a plunger that is not impeded by the walls of the cylinder, such that the plunger can be dropped into the empty cylinder io contact the cylinder bottom solely by force of gravity. The cylinder was filled with the tailings flow; and plunged several times with the plunger. The plunger was then removed from the cylinder, and the cylinder was allowed to stand undisturbed for 15 minutes. At the end of the 15 minutes, the plunger was dropped into the cylinder from the surface of the undisturbed contents. The settled solids at the bottom of the cylinder impeded the plunger from reaching the cylinder bottom. The distance between the bottom of the cylinder interior and the bottom of the plunger after dropping it into the cylinder; that is, the height of the accumulated setled tailings, was 16 mm. The result of the Static Settling Test for the untreated tailings flow serves as a control against which the settling of treated tailings flows is compared.

[0062] Accordingly, the Static Settling Test was repeated three more times, except in each of the three tests a 35 wt% dispersion of polyfdiailyldimethylammomum chloride) (polyDADMAC, weight average molecular weight (M«) of 170,000 g / mol) in water was added to the cylinder along with the tailings flow, to obtain the amount of polyDADMAC indicated in Table 1 . The height of the accumulated settled tailings was compared to the 16 mm height of the layer in the control test (tailings flow with no polyDADMAC or other material added). The results, shown in Table 1 , demonstrate that polyDADMAC is effective at decreasing the level of settling in a standing col umn, and that 50 pμm of the polyDADM AC is sufficient to eliminate static settling.

[0063] Table I . Dose of polyDADM AC added io a copper / moly tailings flow, in pμm by weight based on the weight of tailings solids in the copper / moly tailings flow; and observed height of accumulated settled tailings measured in the Static Settling Test,

[0064] Example 2

[0065] The raceway of a copper / moly ore processing facility from which the tailings flow used, in Example I was obtained was observed to suffer from severe sanding, wherein restricted movement of the tailings flow due to deposited solids in the raceway caused frequent overflowing of the raceway to occur. A continuous dosing of 30 pμm of the polyDADMAC dispersion of Example 1 , based on the average amount of solids measured to be in the tailings flow and the rate of transportation of the flow within the raceway, was applied slightly downstream of the point where the tailings flow was applied io the raceway from the froth flotation circuit.

[0066] About 30 seconds after starting dosing of the polyDADM AC dispersion, a large sand bar (area of significantly accumulated deposited solids) that was present on the raceway appeared to have decreased in size. About 5 minutes after starting dosing of the polyDADMAC dispersion, the size of the sand bar was significantly decreased; and additional solids deposits near the end of the raceway, close to the thickener beds, were also observed to he decreased. Within about i 5 minutes of starting dosing of the polyDADMAC dispersion, the raceway appeared to be free of deposited solids.

[0067] Then the trial was performed w ith an on and off again format of periodic dosing to ascertain whether the foregoing observed effects were due to normal fluctuations in the process, and not to the addition of polyDADMAC. Each time dosing of polyDADMAC was suspended, accumulated deposited solids began to form. And each time dosing was resumed, the accumulated deposited solids disappeared.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 10 February 2026 (10.02.2026)1 . A composition comprising a mixture of a cationic polymer, and a partitioned flow from a froth flotation of a mineral ore, the partitioned flow comprising 1 wt% to 20 wt % of a particulate product of the m ineral ore in a medium.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the mineral ore is a gold ore, a silver ore, a copper ore, a molybdenum ore, a sulfide ore, a lead ore, a. zinc ore, or a copper / moly ore.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the particulate product is a gangue.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the cationic polymer comprises a poly(diallyldimethylammonium halide), optionally wherein the halide is chloride.

5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the weight average molecular weight of the poly(diallyldimethylammonium halide) is 1x 105g / mol to 1x106g / mol.

6. The composition of any one of claims 1 -5 wherein the cationic polymer is present in the mixture in an amount of I ppm to 1000 ppm by weight of the particulate product, or wherein the cationic polymer is present in in the mixture in an amount of 10 ppm to 100 ppm by weight of the particulate product, or wherein the cationic polymer is present in the mixture in an amount of less than 100 ppm by weight of the particulate product.

7. The composition of any one of claims 1 -5 wherein the medium comprises water, further wherein the medium has a pH of 7 to 14.

8. The composition of any one of claims 1-5 wherein the mineral ore has a density of 4.0 g / cm3to 10 g / cm3or wherein the partitioned flow has a density between 1 .0 g / cm3and 2.0 g / cm3..

9. The composition of any one of claims 1-5 wherein the composition is disposed within a containment or a conduit.

10. The composition of claim 9 wherein the conduit is a raceway extending between, and in fluid communication with, a froth flotation cell and a thickener bed.

11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the composition is moving within the raceway in a direction from the froth flotation cell toward the thickener bed.

12. A method of treating a partitioned flow collected from a froth flotation of a mineral ore, the method comprising adding 1 ppm to 1000 ppm by weight of a cationic polymer to the partitioned flow to form a treated partitioned flow, the partitioned flow comprising 1 wt% to 20 wt % of a particulate product in a medium, wherein the particulate product is a mineral product or a gangue.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the mineral ore is selected from a gold ore, a silver ore, a copper ore, a molybdenum ore, a sulfide ore, a lead ore, a zinc ore, or a copper / moly ore.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the particulate product comprises particles having at least one dimension that is about 200 μm or greater.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the partitioned flow has a density between 1.0 g / cm3and 2.0 g / cm3.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the partitioned flow is a tailings flow, and the particulate product is a gangue.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the cationic polymer comprises a poly(diallyldimethylammonium halide), optionally wherein the poly(diallyldimethylammonium halide) is poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) having a weight average molecular weight of 1 x105g / mol g / mol to 1 x106g / mol.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the adding is adding 10 ppm to 100 ppm by weight of the cationic polymer to the partitioned flow.

19. The method of any one of claims 12-18 wherein the method further comprises applying the treated partitioned flow to a conduit; and transporting the treated partitioned flow through the conduit, wherein the deposition rate of the particulate product onto a surface of the conduit during the transporting is reduced by 10% to 100% compared to the deposition rate of the particulate product obtained by transporting the partitioned flow through the conduit in the absence of the cationic polymer.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising dispensing the transported treated partitioned flow from the conduit into a thickener bed; and concentrating the treated partitioned flow within the thickener bed to form a treated partitioned concentrate, the treated partitioned concentrate comprising 30% to 80% by weight of the particulate product.

21. Use of a cationic polymer to treat a partitioned flow from a froth flotation of a mineral ore, the partitioned flow comprising 1 wt% to 20 wt % of a particulate product of the mineral ore in a medium.