A process for treating and dewatering tailings comprising fine clay minerals, fine rock-forming minerals and water is provided, comprising treating the tailings with a sufficient amount of a collector to modify the surface properties of both the fine clays and rock-forming minerals; subjecting the treated tailings to froth flotation to form a fine clays and rock-forming minerals froth layer; and recovering the froth layer and subjecting it to dewatering.

A process for treating and dewatering tailings comprising fine clay minerals, fine rock-forming minerals and water is provided, comprising treating the tailings with a sufficient amount of a collector to modify the surface properties of both the fine clays and rock-forming minerals; subjecting the treated tailings to froth flotation to form a fine clays and rock-forming minerals froth layer; and recovering the froth layer and subjecting it to dewatering.

An apparatus (40) for deaerating a froth comprising a spinning basket (44) mounted on a driven shaft (46). The side walls of the spinning basket have a mesh or openings therein. Froth is supplied to the interior of the spinning basket and contacts the floor of the spinning basket and is flung outwardly through the mesh or openings to break the bubbles and deaerate the froth. A solid all (42) may surround the spinning basket to further assist in deaeration. A spinning plate may be used in place of the spinning basket. In another embodiment, vacuum is used to deaerate the froth.

THIS invention relates to a process for recovering value metals from ore (50) configured such as to substantively reduce or eliminate the need for a tailings storage facility. This object is achieved through an integrated processing system designed to enhance the ratio of sand residue from coarse flotation (62) to the amount of tailings arising from fine flotation (72), and then blending a proportion of coarse and fine flotation gangue materials into a free draining stack (82).

THIS invention relates to a process for recovering value metals from ore (50) configured such as to substantively reduce or eliminate the need for a tailings storage facility. This object is achieved through an integrated processing system designed to enhance the ratio of sand residue from coarse flotation (62) to the amount of tailings arising from fine flotation (72), and then blending a proportion of coarse and fine flotation gangue materials into a free draining stack (82).

A flotation arrangement, a flotation plant and a method related thereto are disclosed. The flotation arrangement includes a first flotation section and a second flotation section. The arrangement further includes a dewatering system for separating solid material and liquid to obtain a dewatered solid material stream and a separated liquid stream, and the dewatering system is arranged before the second flotation section and connected thereto for leading said dewatered solid material stream to the second flotation section and the arrangement includes recovery means for recovering the separated liquid stream.

A flotation arrangement, a flotation plant and a method related thereto are disclosed. The flotation arrangement includes a first flotation section and a second flotation section. The arrangement further includes a dewatering system for separating solid material and liquid to obtain a dewatered solid material stream and a separated liquid stream, and the dewatering system is arranged before the second flotation section and connected thereto for leading said dewatered solid material stream to the second flotation section and the arrangement includes recovery means for recovering the separated liquid stream.

The invention pertains to a process for separating mixtures of solids based on their densities. The present invention also relates to the use of a separating liquid (L) for separating plastic solids from metal-containing solids based on their densities, wherein the separating liquid (L) has a density d3 such that 1.5<d3<2.0; wherein the solids have a particle size ranging from 0.1 to 100 mm. The separating liquid (L) is preferably a fluorinated fluid.

The invention pertains to a process for separating mixtures of solids based on their densities. The present invention also relates to the use of a separating liquid (L) for separating plastic solids from metal-containing solids based on their densities, wherein the separating liquid (L) has a density d3 such that 1.5<d3<2.0; wherein the solids have a particle size ranging from 0.1 to 100 mm. The separating liquid (L) is preferably a fluorinated fluid.

The present invention discloses a process of disposal of tailings in piles stemming from the iron ore processing method, replacing dams, and comprising the steps of thickening the ultra-fine tailings, thickening the sandy tailings, mixing the tailings in the proportion of 80 to 90% by weight of sandy tailings and 10 to 20% by weight of ultra-fine tailings, addition of coagulant, addition of flocculant, filtering the mixture and piling the filtered tailings. Unlike traditional processes, this invention promotes an economically and technically feasible tailing disposal process that can be added to any conventional iron ore concentration plant without the need for any change in the process flowchart.