Pyrrhotite Cathodic Decomposition
Grinding with steel balls often adversely affects the flotation separation of sulfide minerals. This is due mainly to the galvanic interactions among different sulfide minerals and steel grinding media. Since rest potentials of sulfide minerals are much higher than those of steel balls, they are always cathodic to grinding media materials. ½O2 + H2O + […]
Gold Milling Operations at Snip Mine
Exploration and staking in the area commenced as early as 1929. The original Snip showing was located by Cominco geologists in 1965. The property changed hands in the 1970’s but was reacquired by Cominco in 1980 only to be optioned to Delaware Resources cum Prime Resources in 1986. Exploration drilling and underground sampling from 1986 […]
In-Situ Leaching
The in-situ leaching project at San Manuel was initially designed to utilize gravity flow leaching to recover oxidised copper from partially rubblized and supergene mineralized rock that was spatially situated adjacent to an abandoned portion of the block cave underground mine. During the construction of this in-situ leaching system, an underground drainage gallery collection facility […]
Flotation Column Gas Holdup & Sparger Systems
The nature of the gas distribution system as well as the hydrodynamics of rising swarms of bubbles can create various profiles. Three radial gas holdup profiles have been identified: parabolic, saddle-shaped and W-shaped. Radial gas holdup profiles have been measured in a large-scale laboratory flotation column using the same multi-cell conductivity probe. Results on three […]
In-Line Static Mixer Flotation Contact System
Conventional froth flotation is one of the most widely used mineral beneficiation processes. Unfortunately, long residence times are often required to achieve complete flotation. These slow flotation kinetics have been associated with the hydrodynamics within the flotation cell. While flotation cell manufacturers have optimized the mixing hydrodynamics, little effort has been made to improve the […]
High Pressure Filtration
With the successful application of the Tube Press on fine china clays, further test work and product development was carried out on many mineral and mineral by-product applications. A laboratory size Piston Press was designed to test the wide variety of samples and determine filtration characteristics for each. Testing pressures of 2000 PSI (140 bar) […]
Shear Flocculation of Silica
Shear-flocculation is a term used by Warren (1975) to describe a phenomenon observed when scheelite (CaWO4) was stirred in the presence of a surfactant. At high stirring speeds in the presence of 10 -4 M sodium oleate, the particle size of the scheelite slurry increased. However, in the absence of a collector and/or at low […]
Sulfide Ore Concentration and Treatment
Geology The ore deposits are hosted by the platform carbonate and lesser siliclastic sedimentary rocks of the Triassic Star Peak Group. The McCoy gold deposit is a proximal skarn developed principally in limestone of the upper Smelser Pass Member of the Augusta Mountain Formation. The Cove gold-silver deposit is located 1.5 km (1 mi) northeast […]
Mineral uses in Paint and their Effect on Quality
Although paint is often considered to be a relatively simple commodity, it is in fact a complex composite material. Considerable effort is required to design a coating which is easily manufactured, applies easily by a variety of techniques, dries evenly, covers thoroughly, has a pleasing appearance, resists physical or chemical attack, and is cost efficient. […]
Acid Alcohol Leaching of Apatite
The current practice for the production of wet-process phosphoric acid (H3PO4) involves leaching beneficiated phosphate rock in the presence of aqueous sulfuric acid (H2SO4). Typical processing involves mining the ore and beneficiating through sizing and flotation to produce a “phosphate rock” concentrate containing over 29 pct P2O5. This concentrate is ground to 90 pct minus […]