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Abstract
Cassiterite flotation is achieved industrially with some anionic collectors. However, the presence of fluorite in primary tin ores usually poses a problem in relation to the selectivity between the two minerals. In this work, a comparative study was undertaken involving adsorption, electrophoretic mobility and suspension stability measurements of both cassiterite and fluorite as a function of oleic acid concentration. These properties are discussed with reference to the calculated free energy of adsorption equation pending of oleic acid on the two minerals. Hallimond tube flotation tests conducted with the two minerals showed a distinctly higher floatability of fluorite at low oleic acid concentration. Micro-flotation studies using Procol CA-540. a sulphosuccinamate collector, presented similar results, indicating that fluorite can be floated selectively from cassiterite at low collector concentration and neutral pH.