Scalping flotation

Scalping flotation is where a first flotation step is practised in order to remove a minor, hydrophobic mineral. This mineral could be one that is valuable, such as MoS2 in a Cu-Mo ore [91], or one that is unwanted, such as talc. 

The flowsheet used to treat dolomitic oxide copper ores is somewhat different from that used in the beneficiation of siliceous oxide copper ores. This is due to the fact that dolomitic ore usually contains elevated amounts of slimes, in which case a split circuit flowsheet has been adopted in a number of operations. The typical flowsheet used for treatment of dolomitic ores is shown in Figure 19.8. Usually, the scavenger tailings are deslimed and the sand fraction is retreated in a scalp copper flotation stage. When the ore is deslimed before flotation, a large amount of fine copper is lost in the slime fraction. 

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