Separation of magnesite from ores which also contain calcite or dolomite

摘要

A method for the separation of magnesite from a particulate ore containing particles relatively rich in magnesite and particles relatively rich in dolomite and/or calcite, which comprises conditioning the ore with at least one coupling agent selected from saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids containing from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, to selectively coat the calcite and/or dolomite in the ore to the substantial exclusion of the magnesite, in combination with providing at least one fluorescent dye to said coupling agent; radiating the conditioned ore to excite and induce fluorescence of the fluorescent dye to a degree sufficient to distinguish the coated particles from the non- coated particles and separating the fluorescing, coated particles from the non-fluorescing, non-coated particles.