閃亞鉛鉱の選鉱性に関する基礎的研究 (第1報)

Abstract

The author has investigated thoroughly the relation between chemical compositionand physical properties of sphalerite in relation to mineral dressing.Specific gravity, refractive index, lattice constant, wettability, magnetic susceptibility, electric conductivity and other physical properties were observed for the samples containing varying amount of iron.It was found that these physical properties and floatability were affected by the change of iron content in sphalerite.The main results obtained are as follows:-(1) Range of iron contentfor twelve samples of sphalerite crystals showed 0.22%(Eagle Picher) to 13.67%(Mozumi), and most of them are in the category of the ordinary sphalerite group except Mozumi and Chichibu samples which are in the marmatite group according to their Fe: Zn atomic ratio.(2) Specific gravity of the sphalerite decreases as its iron content increases.(3) Prism method was tried for the measurementof refractive index, it was found that the refractive index of each sample is related to its iron content.(4) Lattice constant, which was obtained by the X-raydiffraction method using Geigerflex, increases with the iron content.Angle of X-ray reflection is shifted to the smaller angle side when ferrous iron increases in the crystal lattice of ZnS, and the sharpness of the diffraction peak decreases in accordance with the increase of iron content showing diffuse scattering.(5) Average value of iron content was estimated from the 0, value of many kinds of zinc concentrates and zinc scavenger froth taken from the mill circuits. It was cleared out that the nature of sphalerite crystals in zinc concentrate and scavenger froth are quite different in physical properties with regard to the difference in iron contents.(6) Floatability of sphalerite decreasesin accordance with the increase of its iron content, and necessary amount of CuSO4 as the activator increases relatively. Maximum floatability was obtained at pH 7.0-8.0, but the value of after pH moves to the acid side as the iron content increase.(7) There is a definite relation between wettability and ironcontent.(8) A study on the state of aggregation of various sphalerites in zinc concentrates was made by means of the Frantz isodynarnic separator.(9) Results of electrostatic separation were discussed.(10) Magnetic susceptibility was investigated by means of the magnetic balance. The magnetic susceptibilityof sphalerite increases with increasing isomorphous iron content.(11) After studying the minor elements accompanying sphalerite, the author has found that Goldschmidt's rule is agreeable.