PROCESS FOR SEPARATION OF METAL OR MINERAL VALUES FROM A BASE MATERIAL BY AGGLOMERATION ONTO PARTICULATE HYDROPHOBIC MATERIAL

摘要

Process for separation of a metal or mineral value from a base material in which 30 to 70 % of a particulate hydrophobic material is slurried under conditions of shear with a hydrophobic liquid. After a pre-determined time, the remainder of the particulate hydrophobic material is added to the slurry and further agitated to form agglomerates. A slurry of the base material is then treated with the agglomerates to adsorb the metal or mineral value, the agglomerates being recovered from the slurry. The value may be recovered from the agglomerate by conventional techniques.