Flotation Of Custom Lead-Zinc-Iron Ores As Practiced By The International Smelting Co.’s Tooele Plant

THE International Smelting Co. concentrator at Tooele, Utah, first operated on a custom basis for the treatment of lead-zinc-iron ores on Nov.' 1, 1924, with a capacity of 500 tons per day. On May 1, 1925, the capacity was increased to 1000 tons per day by the addition of another 500-ton section. The concentrator has since operated on the two-section basis, each treating 500 tons per day entirely by flotation. LABORATORY AND TEST MILL In connection with the concentrator, a well-equipped laboratory and small continuous testing plant are maintained. The flotation equipment in the test plant is of both the Callow and Mineral Separations Sub-"A" types, so that actual concentrator conditions may be duplicated as closely as possible. PURCHASING OF ORE A new shipper usually sends to the plant a 25 to 50-lb. sample, representative of the ore to be shipped. Batch flotation tests are made on this sample to determine its amenability to the concentrator treatment flowsheet and reagent combinations. The results of these tests, which are accurately correlated with those obtained at the concentrator, both as to grades of products and recoveries, determine the actual value of the ore as submitted in the ore purchasing department's treatment schedule. Hearty cooperation has existed at all times between the ore purchasing and operating departments in the selection of ores as concentrator feed. ORE TREATED The basic tonnages for mixtures on the two sections come from the Park City and Bingham mining districts. The Park City tonnages are received by rail and consist of crude ores and gravity mill products. Those from the Bingham district are received by rail and aerial tramway,