Pyrite types and their effect on flotation electrochemistry

Dr Liza Forbes works in the area of in mineral flotation chemistry. She has a specific interest in mineral surface properties, focusing on clay minerals, base metal sulphides and arsenic bearing minerals.  She has previously worked at the Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum mine (Anglo Platinum) before becoming an academic, working at the University of Cape Town, University of British Columbia, University of Melbourne and the CSIRO. She joined the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre early this year

Pyrite is one of the most important minerals in the beneficiation of gold, platinum group metals, and base metals such as copper. However, “pyrite, is not pyrite, is not pyrite”. Many types of pyrite exist, with a high level of variability between them. Identifying different pyrite types within ores and understanding their properties has enormous benefits towards improving the flotation process.  In this talk, I will describe some effects that pyrite type has on the galvanic interactions with chalcopyrite and how that affects both pyrite and chalcopyrite floatability.