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Why are flotation tailings sometimes reground and processed again?

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Molten copper pours from a large industrial furnace into rectangular molds at a copper smelting facility, with glowing metal and industrial equipment visible. — copper processing Molten copper being made into plates.

In the context of copper processing, flotation tailings are sometimes reground and processed again to increase the overall recovery of copper and reduce metal losses.1

During the initial flotation process, copper minerals are separated from gangue (waste material) by attaching them to air bubbles. However, some copper minerals may remain trapped within the waste or may not have been sufficiently liberated during the first pass. By regrinding these tailings, the material is further reduced in size, which helps liberate any remaining copper minerals. This reground material is then passed through a second flotation stage, and the resulting concentrate is combined with the initial production to maximize efficiency.1