Physicochemical and process properties of galena, sphalerite and carbonaceous material of complex low-sulphide Pb–Zn ore

Particles of galena, sphalerite and carbonaceous material extracted from complex low-sulphide Pb–Zn ore, belonging to a size fraction specific to faster flotation rate are analyzed. Using semi-adiabatic calorimetry, the heat of wetting is measured in powders composed of a size fraction –74+44 µm. The heat of wetting can be a quantitative measure of wettability. A reference sample was graphite size fraction, which showed the value см Hav = 0.15±0.03 J/m2. It is found that carbonaceous material (CM) possesses the least heat of wetting (0.19±0.04 J/m2), which proves the pronounced natural hydrophobicity of the material. Galena and sphalerite demonstrate higher heats of wetting (1.67±0.19 J/m2 and 1.75±0.35 J/m2, respectively), which conforms with the moderate hydrophilicity of the minerals. Using the Hammett method, the acid–base properties of active centers on the surface of the test samples are investigated. The surface of CM is dominated by Brønsted bases and Lewis acids and bases, which conditions the high sorption capacity of the material. Sulphides and CM demonstrate the comparable floatability—extraction of fractions in froth flotation for 5 min is: PbS_butX 96±1.5%, PbS_DT 91±1.5%; ZnS_butX 79±1.5%, ZnS_DТ 93±1.5% CM_butX 84±1.5% and CM_DT 83±1.5%. Galena and sphalerite have higher constants of flotation rate (1.0–2.5 min–1) than CM (0.6 min–1). Thus, the found similar physicochemical characteristics of surfaces of the test samples explains the low selectivity of flotation of galena, sphalerite and CM, and the difficulties involved in development of effective reagent regimes of flotation for complex sulphide ore with the increased content of carboniferous matter.

Yergeshev A. R., Karmeyeva M. A., Yergesheva N. D., Tokpayev R. R., Ignatkina V. A. Physicochemical and process properties of galena, sphalerite and carbonaceous material of complex low-sulphide Pb–Zn ore. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(9):163-181. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_9_0_163.

The study was supported by the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Grant No. AR19680419.

A.R. Yergeshev¹, Graduate Student, e-mail: akim9797@mail.ru,
M.A. Karmeyeva¹, Student, e-mail: m2001044@edu.misis.ru,
N.D. Yergesheva¹, Graduate Student, e-mail: nazymarzu.zharolla@mail.ru,
R.R. Tokpayev, Associate Professor, Leading Researcher, Center for Physicochemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan, e-mail: rustamtokpaev@mail.ru,
V.A. Ignatkina¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, e-mail: woda@mail.ru,
¹ NUST MISIS, 119049, Moscow, Russia.

A.R. Yergeshev, e-mail: akim9797@mail.ru.

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