Abstract: Aiming at the problems of low cobalt grade,fine dissemination grain size,and difficult recovery in an iron-cobalt
ore from Xinyu,Jiangxi Province,this study conducted systematic mineral processing tests for comprehensive utilization.
Process mineralogy analysis showed that cobalt mainly occurs in sulfide minerals,and thus a principle flowsheet of “flotation
first to recover sulfur-cobalt minerals,followed by magnetic separation to recover iron” was proposed. Through systematic conditional
tests,the optimal parameters were determined:grinding fineness of 65% passing 0. 074 mm;Using sodium carbonate
(500 g/ t) as inhibitor,copper sulfate (50 g/ t) as activator,and a novel ternary sulfhydryl composite collector CJ-1 (150
g/ t). The results showed that compared with traditional butyl xanthate,CJ-1 could simultaneously improve the grade and recovery
of sulfur and cobalt concentrate. The closed-circuit test finally obtained two qualified products:the sulfur-cobalt concentrate
with S and Co grades of 37. 44% and 0. 32%,and recoveries of 95. 54% and 60. 35%,respectively;The magnetite concentrate
with TFe and mFe grades of 60. 50% and 56. 47%,and recoveries of 66. 28% and 96. 42%,respectively. This study provides a
feasible technical route for the comprehensive utilization of this type of low-grade iron-cobalt ore resources.