Stibnite (Sb₂S₃) is a principal antimony ore mineral. Antimony ores can occur with gold and other sulfides, so preparation depends on stibnite grain size and mineral associations as well as antimony grade.
- Principal mineral
- Stibnite (Sb₂S₃)
- Possible association
- Gold and other sulfides
- Preparation focus
- Controlled liberation of a brittle mineral
Why does stibnite particle behaviour matter?
Stibnite is a relatively soft and brittle sulfide mineral. When gangue is harder, differential breakage can occur and stibnite may preferentially report to finer fractions.
Monitoring size-by-size antimony distribution and mineral loss is therefore as important as mill power alone.
What changes when gold is associated with antimony?
In some deposits antimony minerals occur with gold mineralisation. Preparation must then consider not only an antimony-concentrate objective but also the phase that carries gold.
An unsuitable grinding target can affect downstream recovery of the two values differently.
Preparation before gravity or flotation
Stibnite density and surface properties can make gravity or flotation-based beneficiation relevant. The appropriate route is established by ore testwork.
Gravity or flotation selection depends on stibnite liberation and metallurgical testwork; the preparation circuit must deliver the feed conditions required by that choice.
Data required for decisions
- Stibnite grain size and distribution
- Gold and other sulfide associations
- Gangue hardness and breakage behaviour
- Feed/product PSD
- Downstream metallurgical testwork