Mechanisms Of Flotation Of Selected Iron-Bearing Silicates

Selective flotation in nonmetallic systems is often complicated by the presence of iron-bearing silicates occurring as gangue. Minerals such as augite, diopside, hornblende, and tourmaline respond readily to flotation under the same conditions as ore minerals. Mechanisms by which these minerals respond to flotation with anionic collectors must be established if selective separations are to be made in these systems. It was the objective of this investigation to determine the mechanisms involved in the flotation of two pyroxenes, augite and diopside, with potassium oleate. Experimental Materials and Methods Pure potassium oleate, prepared by neutralization of oleic acid with KOH, was used as collector, while reagent-grade HC1 or KOH were used for pH adjustment. Conductivity water, made by passing distilled water through a mixed-bed ion exchange column, was used in this investigation. Two pyroxenes, [ ], were involved in this work. One member of this class of minerals was augite and was found to contain 3.3% calcium, 4.6% iron, and 9.6% magnesium. The source of this mineral was Tillamook County, Ore. The other pyroxene involved was diopside which contained 8.3% calcium, 2.7% iron, and 7.6% magnesium. The source of this sample was Bancroft, Ont. Microflotation experiments were conducted with a Hallimond cell. Mineral samples were ground dry and sized to 100 x 200 mesh. One-gram charges were conditioned for 3 min in the presence of various additions of potassium oleate. Flotation was conducted for 1 min with a nitrogen flow rate of 50 cm3/min. The electrophoretic mobilities of these two minerals were measured with a Zeta Meter in the absence and presence of [ ] salts and in the presence of an indifferent electrolyte, NaC1, added to maintain ionic