Abstract: In order to provide a theoretical basis for the beneficiation process research of a foreign associated natural copper- iron ore,a detailed process mineralogy study was carried out by using mineral liberation analyser (MLA),combined with chemical analysis,optical microscopy,XRD and other analytical methods. The results show that the ore grade of Cu is 1. 06%, the grade of Fe is 44. 91%,and the Cu mainly exists in the form of natural Cu with a distribution rate of 66. 98%,while the Fe mainly exists in the form of magnetite and hematite-limonite with a distribution rate of 41. 26% and 45. 05%,respectively. The ore structure mainly consists of disseminated structures,layered structures,and block structures,and the main mineral structure is porphyry structure,network structure,granular structure,closed structure and residual structure. The ore contains a large variety of minerals,and the minerals that can be comprehensively recycled are magnetite,natural copper and copper sulfide minerals. The natural copper in the ore is closely symbiotic with limonite,and the chalcopyrite (chalcocite) is closely symbiotic with the gangue and pyrrhotite;the porphyritic magnetite in the ore closely symbiotic with martite and limonite. Natural copper, chalcopyrite and chalcopyrite assemblages are mainly in the form of microfine grains,-60 μm particle size distribution rate of 82. 24% and 86. 15%;iron minerals embedded in the particle size from coarse to fine:dlimonite >dmagnetite >dhematite,all three are mainly in the form of fine grains,-100 μm particle size distribution rate of 56. 57%,69. 87% and 82. 31%,respectively,The ore needs to be ground to below 60 μm in order to dissociate most of the copper and iron minerals. Limonite in the ore is easy to sludge in the milling and flotation process,which will deteriorate the index of copper minerals separation. Therefore,based on the recovery of only copper sulfide and natural copper,the theoretical copper recovery is 81. 01%. The recommended beneficiation process is raw ore grinding-copper and sulfur mixed flotation-mixed flotation tailings magnetic separation to recover magne-tite-mixed flotation concentrate gravity separation and flotation combined to recover copper minerals.

Key words: Natural copper-iron ore,Process mineralogy,Dissemination characteristics