Abstract
Artificial mixtures of galena, pyrite and sphalerite with quartz in a particulate size range of 106–150 μm (140-100 mesh) were subjected to electrostatic beneficiation in an alternating current force field in an inverted roof separator. Pyrite and galena, with electrical conductivities of ∼1000 and ∼100 (Ωm) −1 respectively, separated efficiently from the quartz which has a very low conductivity of only ∼10 −12 (Ω m) −1. This enabledrecovery of 70% of the pyrite in only 15% of the processed mass and 40% of the galena in 11% of the processed mass. Sphalerite, with a relatively low conductivity of ∼10 −5 (Ω m) −1 was not sufficiently different from quartz to permit any beneficiation. Electrostatic separation of selected sulphides from silicate gangue minerals appear to be a technically feasible and environmentally friendly possibility.
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