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SULFIDE PROCESS
Globalflex solutions
Globalflex Solutions
The sulfide processing in mining involves extracting valuable metals, such as copper, from sulfide minerals. The process begins with crushing and grinding the ore to liberate the metallic sulfides, followed by concentration through flotation, where the sulfides are separated from unwanted material, resulting in a metal-rich concentrate. This concentrate can then be further processed in smelting and refining plants to achieve the purity required for commercial use.
Globalflex® offers solutions designed to protect equipment at various stages of the process, minimizing wear and ensuring operational continuity. Below are our recommendations to maximize efficiency and extend the lifespan of your equipment.
01
EXTRACTION
The primary goal of this stage is to extract the ore from the rock mass and safely transport it to the plant, where it will be separated from other minerals to obtain the purest material.
Trucks, trains, or conveyor belts (depending on the mine) transport the rocks to their destination to continue the production process.
Equipment Used
- Electric shovels and bucket-wheel excavators (leaching process)
- Front loaders
- Haul trucks
- Truck loading chutes
02
CRUSHING
Following the extraction stage, trucks deposit the material into crushers, where the rocks undergo comminution. At this stage, the material is reduced to a suitable size for transport via conveyor belts to the next stage of the process.
Equipment Used
- Primary Crushing: Gyratory crushers
- Secondary Crushing: Cone crushers
- Tertiary Crushing: Short-head cone crushers
03
TRANSPORTATION
FROM THE CRUSHING AREA TO THE GRINDING ZONE
In the mining process, the material exiting the crusher is transported to the grinding area via conveyor belts.
Crushing and grinding are critical stages in the comminution process, which involves reducing the size of rocks and minerals. These stages account for the majority of the energy invested in the operation.
Equipment Used
- Conveyor belts
- Discharge chutes
04
GRINDING
In this stage, the comminution of the material is carried out more finely, ensuring that the mineral particles are separated from other substances. This step is essential to condition the material and facilitate its processing in subsequent phases.
Equipment Used
- SAG Mills (Semi-Autogenous Grinding)
- Screens
- Ball Mills
GLOBALFLEX LINES
Used in this Stage
05
HYDROCYCLONE
The hydrocyclone separates suspended solids into two fractions: a coarse fraction discharged through the underflow and a fine fraction exiting through the overflow. The slurry enters tangentially into the hydrocyclone, creating a vortex that pushes coarse particles toward the lower nozzle and fine particles toward the upper overflow.
After this separation, the fine material moves on to the next stage in thickeners and flotation cells.
Equipment Used
- Hydrocyclones
- Hydrocyclone discharge chutes
GLOBALFLEX LINES
Used in this Stage
06
FLOTATION
The fine material is mixed with water and chemical reagents and transported to flotation cells. When air is injected, bubbles are formed, which attract hydrophobic minerals. These minerals adhere to the bubbles, creating a mineral-rich foam that floats to the surface and is collected for the next stage of processing.
Equipment Used
- Flotation cells
- Conditioners
- Agitators
- Flotation cell feed and discharge chutes
07
THICKENERS
After grinding and material classification (e.g., with hydrocyclones), the fine material, which still contains a high amount of water, passes through the thickeners.
These machines remove a significant portion of the water, producing a thicker, more concentrated slurry. The purpose of thickeners is to reduce water volume and increase the concentration of solids in the slurry.
Equipment Used
- Thickeners
- Thickener feed and discharge chutes
08
MOLYBDENUM CIRCUIT
(OR OTHER SECONDARY MINERALS)
After copper flotation, the remaining material, which contains molybdenum along with other minerals, enters a specific flotation circuit.
In this circuit, specific reagents are added to make the molybdenum adhere to the air bubbles, separating it from the rest of the material. The molybdenum is collected in the foam and sent to a thickening and filtration process to concentrate it.
Equipment Used
- Additional flotation cells
- Filters
GLOBALFLEX LINES
Used in this Stage
09
FILTRATION CIRCUIT
The filtration circuit is a crucial stage in mineral processing where excess water is removed from the concentrate, transforming it into a more solid and manageable product. This circuit is typically located after the thickening and flotation stages.
Equipment Used
- Filter presses
- Disc or drum filters
10
CONCENTRATE
STORAGE
The concentrate storage is the final stage of mineral processing before transportation to smelting plants, refining facilities, or export. Its main function is the temporary storage of the filtered concentrate, ensuring optimal storage conditions to preserve its quality and facilitate logistics.
Equipment Used
- Silos
- Covered storage buildings
- Loading and unloading equipment
GLOBALFLEX LINES
Used in this Stage
11
DISTRIBUTION
The process of transporting the concentrated material from the mine to the processing plant or port is a key stage in mining logistics. It ensures that the final product reaches its destination efficiently, economically, and safely.
For concentrates intended for export, maritime transportation is used from specialized bulk material ports.
Equipment Used
- Cargo trucks
- Trains
- Port conveyor belts
- Cranes
