Separation of minerals by selective magnetic fluidization

An experimental study of magnetomotional behaviour of a number of particulate ferro- and paramagnetic minerals in alternating magnetic fields revealed the effect of selective magnetic fluidization of ferromagnetic compounds in mineral mixtures. Selective fluidization generates a spatial displacement of particles and constitutes a novel magnetic separation process. The calculation of the magnetic torque, due to a uniform field, on ferro- and paramagnetic compounds of mineral mixtures shows a substantial difference in the magnitude of the torque on ferromagnetics with varied remanence, and on paramagnetics. Application of an alternating uniform field enables the precise selective magnetic fluidization of minerals with different composition, which can then be physically separated. Results of comparative tests on magnetic separation of Hemmerdon tungsten ore showed the possibility of splitting minerals with similar magnetic susceptibility which are inseparable by conventional magnetic separation techniques.bl]