Abstract: To address the problem of low flotation recovery of a micro-fine disseminated copper sulfide ore,a study on
classified flotation process was conducted. The run-of-mine ore assayed Cu of 4. 86%. Process mineralogy showed that at a
grinding fineness of 80% passing 53 μm,the content of -25 μm fine particles was as high as 56. 45%,and the liberation degree
of copper sulfide minerals was only 54. 68%;The unliberated minerals were mostly locked with gangue and enriched in the
fine fraction. Consequently,a process was proposed which involved splitting the pulp at 25 μm and optimizing flotation conditions
for the coarse (+25 μm) and fine (-25 μm) fractions separately. For the -25 μm fraction,flotation was intensified using
a dispersant and high-intensity agitation. Closed-circuit test results demonstrated that this classified flotation process could
produce a final concentrate grading Cu of 51. 33% with a recovery of 95. 20%. Compared with the original production process
(recovery of 88. 78%),the new process significantly increased recovery by 6. 42 percentage points while meeting the concentrate
grade requirement,providing a technical reference for the efficient beneficiation of similar micro-fine disseminated copper
sulfide ores.

Key words: classified flotation,micro-fine dissemination,copper sulfide ore,intensified agitation,process optimization