Better recoveries targeted

摘要

Flotation is the most extensively used method world-wide to separate minerals from in situ resources. Optimising the recovery of valuable minerals from both fine and coarse particles in flotation is one of the most significant challenges facing the mining industry. Researchers at UniSA's Ian Wark Research Institute have been awarded an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage grant in collaboration with industry worth almost 4.5 million dollars over four years to develop novel methods to improve mineral recoveries from particles of different sizes during flotation. Losses of valuable minerals from very fine and coarse particles in flotation tailings equate to about 500 million dollars annually in Australia alone, according to joint project leader and director of The Wark~(TM), Laureate Professor John Ralston.