Sylvinite ore - beneficiation by gravity sepn

摘要

Ore contg. >=3% clay and having a K2O clay ratio 5:1 is comminuted to a max. size of 1/2 - 1 inch and a min. of 10 mesh, and gravity sepd. to give an overflow having a K2O ratio of >=10 : 1. The overflow is sepd. into fractions above and below 1/4 inch, the latter being gravity sepd. to yield a sylvinite concentrate while the former is reduced to below 1/4 inch and sepd. to give a sylvinite-bearing refraction which is further concd. by gravity sepn. The sepns. may be by vortex using a heavy medium of brine and magnetite, while undersize material from comminution may be beneficiated either by froth flotation or by crystallization.