Ball or rod mills crush and grind the mined ore to fine particles that may be only microns (10^-3 mm) in diameter, releasing molybdenite from the gangue (worthless rock).

The grinding mills on the right reduce rocks the size of soccer balls to the size of gravel. Further ball milling reduces the material to the consistency of face powder,

The milled ore/gangue powder is mixed with a liquid and aerated in the flotation step.  The less dense ore rises in the froth to be collected, while the gangue sinks to be discarded.  Flotation separates the metallic minerals from the gangue this way and – in the case of copper/ molybdenum ores – separates molybdenite from copper sulphide.

The resulting MoS₂ concentrate contains between 85% and 92% MoS₂.  Further treatment by acid leaching can be used to dissolve impurities like copper and lead if necessary.

Molybdenum mining and processing techniques have been improved continuously since the first mine was started at Climax near Leadville, Colorado in 1916.

Today, the principal moly mines, both primary and by-product, are found along the Great Continental Divide of the Americas, in China and in the CIS. Many of these mines are amongst the most productive in the world, with the largest capable of moving over 50,000 tonnes of ore per day.

Mining and processing plants are operated with minimum emissions under stringent environmental protection regulations.

http://www.oregrinder.com/solutions/crushing-plant/molybdenum-processing-plant.html

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