Abstract: Flotation tests on different new collectors for Dexing copper ore were carried out. The results show that modified thiourea collectors are strong collectors for copper minerals and their recovery of copper is better than that by monothiophosphates and thionocarbamates. The result of the industrial test with a collector combination of modified thiourea TU-32 and small amount of butyl xanthate (BX) indicates that compared with BX system, this collector system can remarkably reduce the lime consumption in two-stage copper-sulfur separation and improve the quality of copper concentrate by additional recoveries of Cu 1.05%, Au 7.16% and Mo 3.90%. As modified thiourea collectors have powerful collection ability for copper minerals and good selectivity for iron sulfides, they have been used in the production of Sizhou Concentrator in Dexing Copper Mine.

Key words: Dexing copper mine, TU-32 collector, Flotation recovery