AM2 is a potassium hydroxamate mineral flotation reagent which has been developed and patented by Ausmelt. It has been found in laboratory and plant evaluations to be effective at floating oxidised ores of copper, molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, tin and silver. Work is in progress to develop an AM2 derivative for lead and zinc.

The product can be used in conventional flotation circuits as the prime reagent to recover metal from ore with a high proportion of oxidised ore instead of sulphidisation (CPS). It can also be used as a tertiary collector with other reagents on mixed sulphide and oxidised ores to increase recovery.

AM2 has been supplied to Australian mines and is currently being sold to mines in Africa, South America and North America and it continues to be tested in laboratories by leading mining houses around the world. To date most test work has been on copper, copper/molybdenum, copper/gold, copper/cobalt and platinum bearing ores although tests have been carried out on nickel and tin.

AM2 can be useful in increasing metal recoveries from a wide range of ore types and a wide range of applications.

High oxide ores, mixed sulphide/oxide ores and weathered tailings are suitable ores for AM2 and it has been found to be more effective than CPS in most cases.