If the idea is try to recover, by flotation, copper oxides that are located in the upper part of the deposit. According to geology department the main copper oxide minerals are chrysocolla and atacamite. There are small quantities of azurite and malachite. As far as I know, it is difficult to float chrysocolla. Malachite and azurite respond to sulphidization very well. Leaching is an option, but it is important to evaluate flotation.
Chrysocolla is traditionally considered difficult to float but this behavior is often misunderstood. Chrysocolla is a mineral which varies in its properties yet is classified as a single mineral. Chrysocolla is mostly disseminated copper in a silicate matrix, but the copper content varies from 33% to below 10% in parts. It also contains Al and Fe which also affect it’s surface properties.
There are various collectors which I have successfully used for Chrysocolla including hydroxamates. I find that the main defining characteristic for success is the Copper content of Chrysocolla. Other factors like Fe gangue can also negatively affect performance. In brief, it can float, but it depends on the predominant characteristics of the Chrysocolla in your deposit.
For projects under development, we run 2 types of testwork programs. Reagent Scoping testwork where we assess the response of the oxide reagents to the ore body. This allows you to decide whether the results are promising enough to warrant further testwork. This is free of charge, done in our met lab and requires 20 kgs of ore. We would send you a report with the findings. If the results are positive then further testwork to assess other flotation parameters, like grind, cleaner performance, locked cycle tests, depressant tests, flowsheet design etc can be performed. We charge for this as a Metallurgical Consulting service to develop an overall solution.