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Integrated Testing Solutions for Polymetallic Beneficiation

Integrated Testing Solutions for Polymetallic Beneficiation

Expert testing Tailored processes Guaranteed outcomes
Integrated Testing Solutions for Polymetallic Beneficiation Integrated Testing Solutions for Polymetallic Beneficiation Integrated Testing Solutions for Polymetallic Beneficiation

As global high-grade mineral resources become increasingly depleted, more mining projects are facing complex polymetallic ores with difficult separation characteristics. In such cases, systematic mineral processing testwork is critical for determining the optimal processing flowsheet and validating project feasibility before plant construction.

Integrated Testing Solutions for Polymetallic Beneficiation

With extensive experience from both domestic and international projects, Xinhai has developed strong capabilities in complex polymetallic ore testwork and process optimization.

Copper-Lead-Zinc Polymetallic Ore Testwork

The Challenge Lies Not Only in Recovery, but in Separation

Inner Mongolia Copper-Lead-Zinc Polymetallic Ore Project

Inner Mongolia Copper-Lead-Zinc Polymetallic Ore Project

This project involved a typical complex polymetallic ore containing copper, lead, zinc, as well as associated gold and silver values.

The key technical challenge was the tight association between copper, lead, and zinc minerals, requiring simultaneous optimization of recovery efficiency and selective separation performance.

To address these challenges, Xinhai conducted multiple comparative flotation tests and ultimately adopted a preferential flotation process for copper, lead, and zinc recovery. The team further optimized grinding fineness, flotation circuit configuration, and reagent schemes through systematic testing.

Final test results were as follows:

Product Yield (%) Grade Recovery (%)
Copper Concentrate 3.40 Cu 25.48% Cu 90.49
Ag 233.66 g/t Ag 39.43
Copper Concentrate 0.57 Pb 46.45% Pb 60.00
Ag 277.41 g/t Ag 7.68
Lead Concentrate 12.20 Zn 47.50% Zn 89.08

Despite the highly complex mineral associations, both copper and zinc recoveries approached 90%, while valuable gold and silver were recovered simultaneously.

Tibet Huaxia Mining Copper-Lead-Zinc Polymetallic Ore Project

The high-altitude conditions in Tibet, including low temperatures and unique water chemistry, placed stringent demands on reagent performance and process stability.

To meet the requirements of low-grade copper recovery, lead-zinc separation, and associated silver enrichment, Xinhai optimized the flotation flowsheet to efficiently concentrate silver into the lead concentrate. This approach improved both primary metal recovery indicators and by-product value.

The project demonstrated Xinhai’s strong adaptability to complex ores as well as its practical experience in high-altitude mining projects, where site-specific process adaptation is essential.

Silver-Dominant Polymetallic Ores

Maximizing High-Grade Silver Recovery

Tajikistan Copper-Lead-Zinc-Silver Polymetallic Ore Project

This overseas project featured exceptionally high silver grades of 256.36 g/t, making silver the primary target metal. However, copper, lead, and zinc grades were relatively low.

A conventional flotation-only approach would have resulted in significant silver losses while failing to maximize the value of associated base metals.

To improve overall resource utilization, Xinhai developed a staged recovery strategy. High-grade silver concentrate was first recovered through flotation, followed by cyanide leaching of flotation tailings to recover residual silver. At the same time, low-grade copper, lead, and zinc were comprehensively recovered.

Final test indicators included:

Silver Concentrate Grade Silver Recovery by Flotation Total Silver Recovery
3294.26 g/t 72.86% 88.20%
Tajikistan Copper-Lead-Zinc-Silver Polymetallic Ore Project
Tajikistan Copper-Lead-Zinc-Silver Polymetallic Ore Project

Without significantly increasing operating costs, the total silver recovery reached nearly 90%, while the comprehensive recovery of associated base metals substantially improved the project’s overall economic return.

Gold-Dominant Polymetallic Ores

Flexible Multi-Process Integration

Gold-Dominant Polymetallic Ores

Gold-dominant polymetallic ores often contain finely disseminated gold that is easily lost during processing, while associated copper, lead, and zinc are frequently underutilized. Xinhai addresses these challenges by flexibly integrating flotation, cyanide leaching, and other beneficiation technologies based on ore characteristics, enabling efficient multi-metal recovery and maximizing overall resource value.

Laos Gold Polymetallic Ore Project

In this project, gold was the primary recoverable metal with an ore grade of 2.89 g/t, accompanied by copper, lead, zinc, and other valuable elements.

A standalone gold extraction process would not have fully utilized the ore’s economic potential.

Based on ore characteristics, Xinhai adopted a combined process of flotation concentrate enrichment followed by cyanide leaching of flotation tailings for deep gold recovery. The process was further optimized to recover lead and zinc simultaneously, creating additional value from associated metals while maintaining high gold recovery.

Laos Gold Polymetallic Ore Project

Nicaragua High-Grade Copper-Gold Ore Project

This project featured a high-grade copper resource with a copper grade reaching 3.22%, along with significant gold and silver recovery potential.

The main challenge was achieving high-grade copper concentrate quality while minimizing precious metal losses to tailings and balancing recovery performance across multiple valuable elements.

To address this, Xinhai designed a coordinated copper-gold-silver recovery flowsheet. High-quality copper-gold concentrate was first recovered through flotation, followed by cyanide leaching of flotation tailings to recover residual gold.

This integrated approach successfully balanced copper concentrate grade with precious metal recovery, enabling efficient recovery of copper, gold, and silver simultaneously.

Exploratory Testwork for Polymetallic Ores

Understanding the Ore Before Defining the Process

Tibet Polymetallic Ore Exploratory Test Project

Not all mining projects begin with a clear understanding of how the ore should be processed.

Tibet Polymetallic Ore Exploratory Test Project

The objective was the comprehensive recovery of lead, zinc, copper, and silver. Rather than applying a standard flowsheet directly, Xinhai conducted extensive comparative testing and systematically optimized key parameters including:

  • Grinding fineness
  • Bulk copper-lead flotation
  • Copper-lead separation
  • Zinc flotation reagent schemes

In this project, the ore characteristics were initially unclear, requiring a full exploratory testing approach from the ground up.

The raw ore contained:

Pb 1.91% Zn 6.54% Cu 0.32% Ag 57.78 g/t
Tibet Polymetallic Ore Exploratory Test Project

The true value of exploratory testwork lies in fully understanding the ore before determining the final process route. For exploration-stage projects, this step often determines whether a deposit has viable development potential.

Xinhai Polymetallic Ore Testwork Capabilities

Xinhai Polymetallic Ore Testwork Capabilities
Xinhai Polymetallic Ore Testwork Capabilities
CNAS Accredited Laboratory

Xinhai operates a CNAS-accredited laboratory and an industrial-scale 3,000 m² pilot test base, conducting over 200 test studies annually with advanced capabilities that meet international standards.

  • Recovery expertise for copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, and other valuable elements
  • Extensive experience with sulfide, oxide, and mixed ores
  • Flexible process integration including flotation, cyanide leaching, and gravity separation
  • Global project experience across Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, and China
  • Customized testwork covering flowsheet design, reagent optimization, and cost control studies
Xinhai Polymetallic Ore Testwork Capabilities

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