The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 17, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 23, 1996
Gary L Simmons, Albuquerque, NM (US);
John C Gathje, Longmont, CO (US);
Newmont Gold Company, Denver, CO (US);
Abstract
Provided is a method for processing a gold-bearing sulfide ore which involves maintaining the ore in a substantially oxygen free environment, preferably beginning with comminution of the ore and ending when a desired final concentrate, enriched in sulfide minerals, is obtained by flotation. In one embodiment, nitrogen gas is used to substantially prevent contact between the ore and air during comminution of the ore and during flotation operations. It is believed that oxygen gas present in air detrimentally affects the recovery of sulfide minerals in a flotation concentrate through surface oxidation of sulfide mineral particles. The use of a gas such as nitrogen can significantly reduce the potential for such surface oxidation. Additionally, gases separated from an oxygen plant may be beneficially used, with an oxygen gas stream being used, for example, for pressure oxidation of sulfide mineral materials, and with a nitrogen gas stream being used in comminution and/or flotation operations, resulting in advantageous use of a nitrogen gas by-product stream which has previously been vented to the atmosphere as waste.