New Mexico Bureauof Mines
Open
File
and
Mineral
Report#336
Barite Flotation
El Cuervo Butte
Michael J. Harris
Metallurgist
New Mexico Bureauof Mines
and Mineral Resources
June, 1988
Resources
Abstract
Barite (Bas04 1 is an essential industrial mineral used for both
its chemical and physical characteristics. Specifications for
the various end uses of barite usually require a higher barite
content than is found in the raw ore. Therefore, the
rntlst
ore
be
beneficiatedtoincreasethebaritecontenttomatchthe
specifications. Samples of barite ore from El Cuervo Butte were
beneficiatedbyflotationandbygravityconcentrationto
determine if these materials might be successfully upgraded.
Results showed that flotation achieved better results thar did
gravity concentration.
Introduction
Barite is an essential industrial mineral used both for its
physical and chemical properties. Barite
as: a soft (hardness
3.5),
can
be characterized
heavy (specific gravity
4.5)
mineral, primarily used as a major component in drilling muds.
90% of the barite used in the United
This accounts for well over
States on an annual basis. Other uses for barite depend on the
purity of the barite and its physical appearance. These uses
include: as a filler and extender in rubber and plastics, in the
manufacture of
glass, as a pigment, and as the only source of
bariumforchemicalmanufacturing.Manyoftheuseshave
stringent specifications based on minimum Bas04 content, maximum
contents of various impurities, and particle size distributions.
Therefore,
many
barite
ores
must
be
beneficiated
int oorder
meet
the desired specifications for a particular end use. (Sources
1,293)
Uses
and
Specifications
Drilling Mud: Chemically nonreactive, heavy and finely ground.
Therefore, typical specifications include, free of soluble salts,
specific gravity minimum of
4.2,
with a minimum of 9 0 percent
passing 325 mesh.
Chemical Manufacturing: Minimum 94 percent BaSO4, with les? than
1
percent Fez03 and SrS04,
particle size is typically between
4
and 20 mesh.
of
Qlass Manufacturing: Minimum 9 5 percent BaS04, with a maximum
FR#
NMBM&MR
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336
percent Si02 and
0.15 percent FezO3, with a particle size
range of 30 to 140 mesh.
Barite
Occurrences
in
New
Mexico
There are at least60 known barite deposits in New Mexico, with
more than a score of other miscellaneous occurrences. Production
of barite ores through the early
beingover
36,000
tonswithmorethan
production
coming
from
the
1960’s has been reported as
95
Mex-Tex
Processing
mine
percentofthat
in
Socorro
county.
Methods
There are two processes which are typically used to beneficiate
barite
ores.
The
first
process,
flotation,
depends
on
a
combination of physical and chemical characteristics to separate
the barite from the gangue components
.
The second process,
gravity concentration, depends on the high specific gravity of
the barite to separate it from the gangue components found in the
ore.Bothofthesemethodsweretestedinthemetallurgy
laboratoryoftheNewMexicoBureauofMinesandMineral
Resources, using barite samples taken from
El Cuervo
Butte.
NMEIM&MR OFRg 336
Page 3
Sample
Description
and
Preparation
Five samples of barite containing materials were taken from El
Cuervo Butte. The samples consistedof pieces and chips with the
largest pieces being approximately
sample weights varied from
4
inches in diameter. The
1 4 to 3 0 kilograms. Mineralogical
examination showed that the primary components of the samples
were barite, calcite and quartz. Note that the composition of
the
Total
5.97
samples
Sample
Si02
Number
varied
CaCOs
1
2
3 14.6
4
5
from
2 1 percent
to77 percent barite.
Bas04
39.4
77.7
75.6
21.2
68.4
50.5
11.5 93.1
76.1
0.53
96 6. 0. 28
3.08
3.91
93.0
96.1
97.8
21.7
Each of the samples was ground to a nominal
10 mesh and blended
2 and 5 which had
in preparation for the test work. Sample Nos.
substantially more bulk were split into halves and one half was
further reduced to quarters. One quarter of each sample was
ground to 65 mesh and the second quarter was ground
to 1 0 0
mesh.
Each of these samples were then reserved for further test work.
Typical size distribution of the crushed and ground productp are
shown
below:
NMBM&MR OFR#
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336
Size Distributions for Crushed and Ground Samples of
El Cuervo Butte Sample Number
5
Cumulative
Passing
(Tyler Mesh)
Crushed
to
10 mesh
28
35
48
65
100
150
200
Ground
to
100%
62.0
52.5
44.0
37.3
31.8
26.2
21.8
Ground
to
100 mesh
65 mesh
"
"
"
"
"
"
97.8
78.9
62.3
51.1
98.9
89.7
69.7
64.0
Experimental Work
The various samples ofE1 Cuervo Butte barite were all subjected
to flotation testing to producean upgraded barite product. In
addition, portions of sample
concentration
testing
Flotation Testing
out
under
the
--
to
2 and 5 were subjected to gravity
produce
an upgraded
barite
product.
Preliminary flotation testing was carried
following
general
conditions:
collectors: Aero 845, Fatty Acid #2
frother: Aero 65,
pH :
around 9 with NaOH
modifiers: sodium silicate as
a dispersant
A total of 1 5 flotation tests were carried out to investigate the
effects
of
flotation
on
the
concentration
and
recovery
of
bp.rite.
Ten tests were performed to examine rougher flotation under two
sets of conditions for the five ore types.
An
testswerecarriedouttoexaminetheeffectofmultiple
additional five
R#
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336
recleaning
General
steps
Test
on
the
recovery
of
the
barite.
Procedure
A onekilogramsampleofbariteorewasgroundin
a
laboratory sized rod mill for five minutes 50atpercent solids.
Thisproduced
a
productwhichwasapproximately
65
percent
passing 200 mesh. The flotation testing was carried out using a
DenvermodelDllaboratoryflotationmachineandthe"one
kilogram" cell. The ground ore was slurried in the cell and all
flotation reagents were then added to the slurry.
Five tests were oarried out to examine the effect
of using Areo
845 as the collector. Five more tests were carried out to
examine the effect of using fatty acid
#2 as the collector. The
test results are summarized below, complete results are presented
in the
appendix.
Table I
Comparison of twodifferent collectorson the flotatior
concentration ofBarite samples from El Cuervo Butte.
Collector:
Tests Nos. 1 - 5
Tests Nos. 6 -10
Bas04
Product
Sample
1
Aero 845
FA #2
%
Test 1
Test 6
Concentrate
48.3
23.7
33.2 9.2
Tail
Head(assayed)
39.4100.0 39.4
Bas04 Dist,
Test 1
91.1
8.9
Test 6
87.2
12.8
100.0
R#
NMBM&MR
Pa$#?6
336
Sample
Product
Bas04 %
Test 2
Test 7
Concentrate
67.3
Tail
011
Head(assayed)7 7 . 7 7 7 . 7
2
3
65.8
20.4
Test 3
Concentrate
71.9
Tail
34.5
Head(assayed)7 5 . 5 7 5 . 5
Test 8
Test 4
Test 9
46.4
1.6
21.2
44.4
4.7
21.2
4
Concentrate
Tail
Head(assayed)
5
Concentrate
Tail
Head(assayed)
BaSO4 Dist.
Test 2
Test 7
66.3
7.6
Test 5
Test 1 0
65.9
43.3
68.4
61.5
4.4
68.4
99.0
???
???
100.0
97.8
2.2
100.0
Test 3
Test 8
75.2
24.8
100.0
1.0
100.0
Test 4
Test 9
90.9
9.1
100.0
97.4
2.6
100.0
Test 5
Test 1 0
98.3
38.2
61.8
1 0100. 00 . 0
As can be seen in these results, the Aero
845
1.7
collector always
gave a higher grade of Bas04 in the concentrate, then was
obtained with the Fatty Acid collector. Conversely, the Fatty
Acid gave substantially higher recoveries then did the Aero
845.
It appears that the Aero
8 4 5 is more selective for barite then is
the fatty acid. Making any further conclusions based on these
results is difficult since the products do not balance well with
the
assayed
heads.
Following this initial test work it was decided to try, one
series of tests to investigate the effects of recleanirg the
rougher flotation concentrate to improve the final grade of
barite contained in the concentrate. For this test work the
Fatty
Acid #2 was
used
as
the
collector
since
it
gave
recoveries in the rougher flotation, which if they could be
much
k.igher
NMBM&MR OFR# 336
Page 7
successfully cleaned would yield the best over all performance.
These test results are summarized below, and presented in detail
in the appendix.
Effects
of
Table I1
Recleaning on the Final Concentration
of Barite
(Tests Nos. 1 1 - 15 Fatty Acid # 2 )
Test
Sample
Product
Wt
%
Bas04 %
Bas04
Dist.
No.
49.1
90.5
72.8
Conc.Cln
92.9
9 7 . 8 Concentrate
65.8
80.8
93.3
91.9
13
8
98.4
3 Conc.Cln
3 9 9 . 0 Concentrate
66.3
39.5
91.8
48.1
14
9
41.4
80.6
4Conc. Cln
9 7 .Concentrate
4
44.4
14.6
80.1
15
39.228.7
5
Conc.
Cln
5 98.3 Concentrate
61.5
80.7
11
6
1 Conc.
Cln
68.1
1 87.2 Concentrate
23.7
12
7
2
10
As
2
94.9
seen in this comparison, recleaning the rougher concertrate
produced substantially higher grades in the cleaner concertrate
product, at the expense of lower recoveries. Based on these
results it would be expected that the flow sheet for treating
this material would consist of multiple stages of flotatior. with
the intermediate tailings being recycled to earlier stages of
flotation. This would seem to be the only way to ensure
E.
high
loss of barite to
grade in the final product, while limiting the
the final tailings,
NMBM&MR OFR# 336
Page 8
Gravity
Two
gravity
concentration
Concentration
tests
were
performed
using
a
laboratory
sized shaking table to produce four products, two ooncentrates, a
middling and a tailing. Feed material for these tests were taken
from El Cuervo
Butte
sample
# 2 and
sample# 5 .
Sample Preparation: Each sample was ground to
being
concentrated
on
the
shaking
6 5 mesh prior to
table.
Discussion: The test products were colleoted and analyzed for
barite
content
with
the
results
summarized
below:
Gravity Test#1
Sample: El Cuervo
Butte #2
%
ba504
%
Bas04
% Distributior
15.0
80.4
59.8
21.1
47.1
12.6
19.2
Test
Wt
Product
Conc I
Conc I1
Middling
39.3
Tailing
51.0
45.1
18.3
21.6
Head (analyzed)
Head (computed)
77.7
57.2
Pagl? 9
NMBM&MR OFR# 336
Gravity Test# 2
Sample: El Cuervo Butte #5
Test
Wt
Product
Conc I
Conc I1
Middling
Tailing
35.5
%
Bas04
%
Bas04
% Distribution
24.2
35.5
70.4
46.9
31.8
16.7
23.6
Head (analyzed)
Head (computed)
As seen
in
these
36.0
35.1
11.2
17.7
results
68.4
47.4
the
barite
was
successfully
concentrated
using gravity techniques. However a significant fractionof the
barite also reported to the tailings, in fact in both tests the
barite grade in the tailing product was higher than the grade of
the middling product. Further conclusions are again hampered by
the poor agreement in the metallurgical balances
of these tests.
NMBM&MR OFR# 336
Page 10
Conclusions
1.
The El Cuervo Butte samples were successfully upgraded by
both
2.
flotation
and
gravity
concentration.
High grade flotation products can be achieved but only with
multiplestagesofrecleaningwhichdecreasestheoverall
recovery in the final concentrate. Therefore, any flow sheet
using flotation to treat the material from El Cuervo Butte, will
almostcertainlyincludemultiplerecyclingofintermediate
tailing products to previous stages of flotation.
3.
While the barite was upgraded by gravity concentration the
loss of barite to the tailings (finer sizes) was significant.
Tight control on particle size distribution should improve the
overall recovery of the barite and minimize the losses to the
final tailings.
336
NMBM&MR OFR#
11
References
IndustrialMineralsandRocksfifthedition,Lefondeditor,
Society of Mining Engineers, 1983, pp 485 503.
-
Mineral Facts and Problems,
U . S . Bureau of Mines Bulletin 6 1 5 ,
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1985, pp 65
75.
-
Williams, F.E., Fillo, P.V., Bloom, P.A., Barite Deposits of New
Mexico, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Circular
76, 1964, 4 6 pp.
Page 12
NMBM&MR OFR# 336
APPENDIX
Summary of Flotation
Test
Results
NMBM&MR OFR# 336
Page 13
Tests Nos. 1 - 5
Collector: Aero 845
Wt %
Sample
Test
Product
No.
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Concentrate
48.3
Tail
9.2
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
66.0
34.0
Concentrate
67.3
Tail
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
85.7
14.3
Concentrate
71.9
Tail 34.5
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
59.3
40.7
Conoentrate
Tail
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
25.5
74.5
Concentrate
65.9
Tail 4 3 . 3
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
28.9
71.1
Bas04 %
BaSOi Dist.
91.1
8.9
39.4
35.0
O??
???
???
77.7
57.7
75.2
24.8
75.5
56.7
46.4
1.6
21.2
90.9
9.1
13.0
38.2
61.8
68.4
49.8
NMBM&MR OFR# 336
14
Page
Tests Nos. 6 - 10
Collector: Fatty Acid # 2
Test
Sample
Product
No.
6
4
1
Wt 96
Bas04 %
Concentrate
Tail
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
87.2
90.5
9.5
23.7
33.2
39.4
24.6
BaSOc Dist,
12.8
7
2
Concentrate
Tail
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
93.3
6.7
65.8
20.4
77.7
62.7
97.8
2.2
8
3
Concentrate
Tail 7.6
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
91.8
66.3
99.0
1.0
Concentrate
44.4
Tai
1
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
80.1
19.9
Concentrate
Tail
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
80.7
19.3
9
10
5
8.2
75.5
61.5
4.7
21.2
36.5
61.5
4.4
68.4
50.5
97.4
2.6
9F.3
1.7
Page 15
NMBM&MR OFR# 336
Tests Nos. 11
Test
Sample
Product
No.
11
12
13
14
15
1
2
3
4
5
-
15
Fatty Acid # 2
Wt %
Bas04 %
BaSOt Dist.
Concentrate
Tail
Cln
Ro Tail 22.5
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
49.1
11.2
39.7
68.1
32.1
72.8
7.8
19.4
Concentrate
Cln Tail
Ro Tail
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
80.8
13.2
6.0
39.4
45.9
91.9
4.8
3.3
77.7
81.0
Concentrate98.4 39.5
Cln Tail72.5
16.4
Ro Tail
44.1
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
Concentrate
Cln Tail
Ro Tail
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
92.9
29.5
44.3
14.6
13.7
71.1
Concentrate
28.7
TailCln
4.0
Ro Tail
60.0 68.3
Head(assayed)
Head(computed)
67.9
75.5
80.7
48.1
14.7
37.1
80.6
20.9
19.2
21.2
28.4
41.4
I@. 1
4E
94.9
32 .O
3S.2
1.9
5E.9
68.4
69.5
.€I