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The effects were studied of impeller design, mechanical energy input and agitation speed on the aggregate size of fine sphalerite samples. The results showed that the size of the aggregates from sphalerite particles ground for 3 min could be significantly enlarged using activator and collector additions during high-intensity conditioning and a high-energy impeller. The improved aggregation with the high-energy impeller was not directly related to the higher energy input into the system. The aggregate size obtained with a high-energy impeller was much coarser than for a low-energy impeller for the same energy input. Using the high-energy impeller, the sphalerite aggregate size decreased with increasing agitation speed from 700 to 2 500 r/min. No reduction in the recovery occurred until the agitation speed reached 2 500 r/min., The effects were studied of impeller design, mechanical energy input and agitation speed on the aggregate size of fine sphalerite samples. The results showed that the size of the aggregates from sphalerite particles ground for 3 min could be significantly enlarged using activator and collector additions during high-intensity conditioning and a high-energy impeller. The improved aggregation with the high-energy impeller was not directly related to the higher energy input into the system. The aggregate size obtained with a high-energy impeller was much coarser than for a low-energy impeller for the same energy input. Using the high-energy impeller, the sphalerite aggregate size decreased with increasing agitation speed from 700 to 2 500 r/min. No reduction in the recovery occurred until the agitation speed reached 2 500 r/min.

To resolve the problem of fine particle flotation in the reverse flotation of bauxite, a new type of air-sparged hydrocyclone was designed by analogue computation based on hydrodynamics theory. Flotation tests of an ore from Henan province grading 64.69% Al2O3 and 11.39% SiO2, with 16.02% smaller than 0.043 mm and an A/S (alumina/silica) ratio of 5.68, showed that a diaspore concentrate grading up to 66.86% Al for direct use in Bayer processing can be obtained with up to 86.79% recovery without desliming, by optimising the parameters of the hydrocyclone. The average A/S ratio of the concentrate was 8.38 with a recovery rate of 85.16%., To resolve the problem of fine particle flotation in the reverse flotation of bauxite, a new type of air-sparged hydrocyclone was designed by analogue computation based on hydrodynamics theory. Flotation tests of an ore from Henan province grading 64.69% Al2O3 and 11.39% SiO2, with 16.02% smaller than 0.043 mm and an A/S (alumina/silica) ratio of 5.68, showed that a diaspore concentrate grading up to 66.86% Al for direct use in Bayer processing can be obtained with up to 86.79% recovery without desliming, by optimising the parameters of the hydrocyclone. The average A/S ratio of the concentrate was 8.38 with a recovery rate of 85.16%.

A study was carried out into the effect of parameters such as the underflow and overflow lip diameters and the insertion length of the overflow pipe in the hydrocyclone on the separation size, and the optimum design was determined using pulp classification tests. The Rasimov method was used to calculate the separation size and comparison with experimental data showed some disagreement, indicating that modification to the method is required in the case of the Fankou mine in China., A study was carried out into the effect of parameters such as the underflow and overflow lip diameters and the insertion length of the overflow pipe in the hydrocyclone on the separation size, and the optimum design was determined using pulp classification tests. The Rasimov method was used to calculate the separation size and comparison with experimental data showed some disagreement, indicating that modification to the method is required in the case of the Fankou mine in China.

Two flowsheets were investigated for the recovery of Au from an ultrafine disseminated ore containing 6.01 g/t Au, 2.33 g/t Ag, 0.038% Cu, 1.03% As and 1.25% S along with 40.78% CaO and 4.33% MgO, 10.10% total C, 10.20% SiO2, 1.26% Fe (0.57% FeO, 1.17% Fe2O3), 0.10% TiO2, 1.34% Al2O3, 1.26% MnO, 0.017% Na2O, 0.15% K2O and 0.0052% P, the first consisting of flotation, acid leaching of the rougher concentrate and middlings and treatment of the tailings to remove Ca, and the second involving roasting and cyanide leaching. Both approaches resulted in Au recoveries of more than 80%, and an economic analysis showed a significant benefit in relation to the profitability of the processes., Two flowsheets were investigated for the recovery of Au from an ultrafine disseminated ore containing 6.01 g/t Au, 2.33 g/t Ag, 0.038% Cu, 1.03% As and 1.25% S along with 40.78% CaO and 4.33% MgO, 10.10% total C, 10.20% SiO2, 1.26% Fe (0.57% FeO, 1.17% Fe2O3), 0.10% TiO2, 1.34% Al2O3, 1.26% MnO, 0.017% Na2O, 0.15% K2O and 0.0052% P, the first consisting of flotation, acid leaching of the rougher concentrate and middlings and treatment of the tailings to remove Ca, and the second involving roasting and cyanide leaching. Both approaches resulted in Au recoveries of more than 80%, and an economic analysis showed a significant benefit in relation to the profitability of the processes.