Hypothesis about the reasons for the easy flotation of sulfide minerals and the difficult flotation of oxidized ones

Abstract

The article sets out a reasonable hypothesis of the causes of mineral flotation. Its main principles are as follows: Insignificant flotation of “sulfide” minerals is due to the formation of halogen oxidation products on their surface, which react with collectors to form stable oriented films of the corresponding organic sulfide compounds of heavy metals, which are inseparable from the substance of the minerals. Cleavage of complete collection products from the surface is possible due to oxidation or as a result of intramolecular rearrangements, especially in the presence of excess collector. The reason for the strong floating of “oxide” minerals is the formation on their surface of unstable reaction intermediates between substances in the mineral and the reservoir. The effectiveness of sulfidization of oxidized minerals is due to the transformation of their surface into the corresponding hemisulfides, which are able to react with reservoirs. The article compares and discusses modern theories of the flotation ability of minerals.