Physically
Engineering
Flotation – Cinderella in the mining industry
Every year, many billions of tonnes of rock are extracted and searched for valuable minerals. Just as pigeons sort for Cinderella, the technique of flotation has been helping to separate metals and rare earths from the mass of unwanted material for over 100 years. Here, the role of the feathered helpers is played by air bubbles rising through a mixture of water and crushed ore. With the right pre-treatment, only the precious minerals adhere to the bubbles and ascend to the surface.
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End
23:00
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