Work

Improved Flotation of High-Clay-Content Gold Ore Using Fenugreek Polysaccharide Gum as the Depressant

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Due to the influence of the clay minerals, the grade of the concentrate from a gold concentrator in Northwest China is low, which significantly compromises product valuation and market competitivenes. This study evaluated the industrial potential of fenugreek polysaccharide gum (FGM) as a depressant to enhance the flotation through pilot-scale testing. Results showed that the FGM system effectively upgraded the concentrate grade by 4.7 g/t, while slightly increasing recovery by 0.37%. The application of FGM has generated an additional $1.715 million profit over the past two years. These findings suggest that FGM holds significant potential for large-scale industrialization in the flotation of high-clay-content sulfide ores.

Source: Minerals

DOI: 10.3390/min15050446