A method of flotation processing ores and other mineral materials
containing soluble nonferrous base metal and sulfide minerals involves
dissolving the soluble nonferrous base metal and precipitating the
soluble nonferrous base metal in the form of a floatable precipitate that
is collected as part of a sulfide concentrate. The use of an
oxygen-deficient flotation gas, such as nitrogen gas, promotes the
precipitation of the floatable precipitate. A method for removing
dissolved nonferrous base metal from solution involves contacting the
solution with a particulate containing sulfide minerals under conditions
promoting precipitation of the nonferrous base metal onto the sulfide
mineral.