Abstract: In order to determine the development and utilization process for a low grade copper nickel ore in Inner Mongolia,the mineral processing of the ore was studied on the basis of processing mineralogy.The results showed that the metallic minerals in the ore are mainly pyrite,violarite and chalcopyrite.Gangue minerals are mainly plagioclase,pyroxene,hornblende,olivine and less chlorite.Most of violarite is closely associated with chalcopyrite in fine-grained particle,and some of them associated with chalcopyrite and pyrite or individually were filled into gangues in geometric shape.It occurs in clear texture and middle grain size of 0.30 to 0.003 mm generally.Most of chalcopyrite is generated in gangues,and part of them is associated with pyrite and violarite,even more closely with violarite.Chalcopyrite mainly occurs in anhedral granular shape and middle particle grain of 0.30 to 0.03 mm usually.Under the condition of the grinding fineness -0.074 mm 90%,and by the process of one roughing,two cleaning and one scavenging to float copper,and two roughing,two cleaning and one scavenging to float nickel,the copper concentrate with copper grade of 14.76% and copper recovery of 82.15%,and Nickel concentrate with nickel grade of 5.86% and nickel recovery of 84.27%,were obtained separately.Both of the copper concentrate and nickel concentrate reached grade V quality standard.

Key words: Low grade copper-nickel ore, Selective flotation, Chalcopyrite, Violarite