ESCI SUM3 - Processing Minerals and Reducing the Negative Effects of Mining

• sampling and analysis

• comminution

• concentration

• dewatering

primary steps involved in processing minerals

sampling

the removal of a sample portion that represents a whole needed for the analysis of this material

analysis

important in evaluating the valuable components in an ore. This includes chemical, mineralogical, and particle size analysis.

comminution

the process where a rock is crushed or broken down into smaller pieces

concentration

the seperation of valuable minerals from the raw materials, creating an end product called concentrate

optical seperation

a process used in the concentration of minerals with distinct contrasting colors

density seperation

a process that uses the density of minerals as the concentrating agent, and performs a sink and float seperation of water and the grounded minerals.

flotation seperation

the most widely used method that makes use of the mineral’s induced surface physicochemical properties.

electrostatic separation

is a process that separates the mineral based on their electe