Selective Flocculation-Flotation Of Slimes From Sylvinite Ores

INTRODUCTION Selective flocculation as a method of desliming potash flotation plant feed has been in commercial use since November, 1974.l It was installed to replace a 1ess efficient mechanical desliming process. While most plants operating in the Saskatoon area of Saskatchewan were designed for 4% to 5% insolubles in practise the quantity and quality of the insoluble materials in the ore has been variable. The variability of the ore has contributed to less than optimum efficiency in the desliming and consequently, the potash flotation circuits. This lower than expected efficiency contributed to the commercialization of a patented process2 through large scale pilot plant testing. Referring to published information and experience, the application of selective flocculation-flotation of slimes to sylvinite ores will be compared with the more conventional mechanical methods of desliming. THE ORE The ore beds being mined in the Saskatoon area of Saskatchewan have proven to be much less uniform than originally thought (Figure 1). The insoluble content of the plant feed is variable in both quantity and quality due to two factors, the presence of disturbances and the structural weakness of the mud seams immediately above the ore beds. Some alteration of the insolubles in the vicinity of disturbances has made them more difficult to liberate and makes ore from the disturbed areas less amenable to treatment.