Characterization of a complex carbonate-silicate apatite ore and its concentration by a two-stage anionic flotation method

Abstract A carbonate-silicate low weathering phosphate ore from an igneous origin deposit in Southeastern Brazil presents a challenge mainly for apatite flotation from its gangue minerals, calcite and dolomite, plus the presence of phlogopite, diopside, magnetite, richterite, ilmenite, vermiculite, quartz and many other minor impurities. Recently, selectivity has been greatly enhanced by using CO2 instead of air, so in this study a variant process was used. In a first stage, carbonate minerals were floated with the use of CO2 as bubble gas; the collector was a saponified fatty acid, medium hyd...

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