InterChem Mining’s Tony Thompson recently conducted a laboratory flotation reagent test-work program at the Rasp Mine operated by CBH Resources Limited. Thanks to Daniel Hitchcock and the metallurgy team for facilitating this site visit.

InterChem has had the privilege of working with Rasp for many years on frother and collector chemistries in the ongoing support of site production targets and changing ore types. InterChem supplies a non-DG frother with similar performance to MIBC, albeit ~10% more efficient. While MIBC is always a brilliant starting point for selective applications, the go-to frother cannot be used at RASP due to proximity to Broken Hill township due to its Dangerous Goods classification. The INTERFLOAT® F200 Series frother deployed at Rasp is a like-for-like replacement in Lead-Silver-Zinc setting that meets the demanding Lead-Silver-Zinc selectivity requirements.

This testwork program undertaken at Rasp is one of numerous active projects that InterChem is actively engaged in to replace conventional xanthate collectors with other specialty collector products. Although xanthates are very effective and powerful flotation collectors, there are many issues associated with the storage, handling and transport of these spontaneously combustible solids. This project explored various alternative INTERCOL® collector chemistries as part of an overall reagent optimisation program for the operation.

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