Pioneering Studies on the Flotation of Corundum from a Montana Gneiss

摘要

Laboratory-scale beneficiation tests were conducted on a sample of corundum gneiss from Montana to devise a method for beneficiating corundum for use as a substitute for refractory-grade bauxite. A flotation process utilizing petroleum sulfonate as the collector in an acid circuit was devised. Results showed that two flotation schemes each produced a concentrate exceeding the national stockpile specifications for calcined bauxite. From a feed containing 28 pct corundum, concentrates containing up to 92.5 pct alumina were produced with a corundum recovery of 78.5 pct.