The flash smelting technology employed in Jinchuan demands a better
mineral processing concentrate with an MgO content below 6.5 per cent.
Two ways for MgO removal have been investigated in detail based on
properties and process mineralogical characteristics of the rich ores in the
number one mining area in Jinchuan. The key to the first way is the use
of a new flowsheet which has two-stage grinding and separation followed
by single-stage regrinding and multi-stage cleaning for the rougher
concentrate. The second approach utilises two novel reagents, AT-131
and AT-202, which have been developed recently. Excellent metallurgical
performance has been obtained in a commercial test and a batch test,
respectively. The MgO content of flotation concentrate can be reduced to
about six per cent.