Lesson 5.3

Question 1

is the process of extracting minerals from the ores, refining
them, and preparing these minerals for use. The primary steps involved in
_ minerals include sampling and analysis, comminution, concentration,
and dewatering.

Answer 1

Mineral processing

Question 2

is the removal of a portion which represents a whole needed for the
analysis of this material. One or more samples are needed.

Answer 2

Sampling

Question 3

is important to evaluate the valuable components in an ore. This includes
chemical, mineralogical, and particle size analysis.

Answer 3

Analysis

Question 4

uses electric discharge which excites the elements in the sample
to emit a certain spectrum which will reveal the identity of the elements as well as
its concentration.

Answer 4

Chemical Analysis

Question 5

uses heavy liquid-testing that aims to separate the less
dense, same density, and denser materials. Coarsely grounded minerals are
classified according to particle size through sieving.

Answer 5

Mineralogical Analysis

Question 6

is where the
valuable components of the ore are separated
through crushing and grinding. This process
begins by (1) crushing the ores to a particular size
and finishes it by grinding the ores into a powder
form. Once crushing is done, (2) valuable minerals can now be separated from
unwanted rock also termed as “waste rock”. Fig. 13 below shows a jaw crusher that
breaks large rocks into smaller pieces.

Answer 6

comminution​

Question 7

It involves the separation of the valuable minerals from the raw materials creating an end product called concentrate​. Various
separation techniques are used such as

optical, density, flotation, magnetic and
electrostatic separation.

Answer 7

concentration.

Question 8

a process being used in the concentration of minerals with
distinct contrasting colors (black and white) seen with the naked eye.

Answer 8

Optical Separation

Question 9

a process that uses the density of minerals as the
concentrating agent and performs a sink and float separation of water and the
grounded minerals. An example is panning, the technique used in mining gold.
Since the particles of gold are denser, it will sink to the bottom once the pan is
shaken. This makes gold easier to be removed.

Answer 9

Density Separation

Question 10

is the most widely used method that makes use of the
mineral’s induced surface physicochemical properties. Chemicals were used to alter
the mineral’s surface properties to make them float forming a froth layer. This makes the valuable minerals easier to separate from the rest.

Answer 10

Flotation Separation

Question 11

is a process that involves different degrees of attraction of
minerals to magnets. An example is the iron ore since it has magnetic properties.
The ores were carried by a conveyor belt passing onto a strong electromagnet
which will then separate the magnetic minerals and non-magnetic waste. In Fig. 18,
the container at the right contains the magnetic iron ore.

Answer 11

Magnetic Separation

Question 12

is a process that separate the mineral particles based on
their electric charges. As shown in the illustration below, an electrostatic separator
utilized mineral’s electrical properties to separate them from one another.

Answer 12

Electrostatic separation

Question 13

uses the concentrates to convert it to usable minerals. This involves
filtration and sedimentation of the suspension, and drying of the solid material
harvested from this suspension.

Answer 13

Dewatering

Question 14

include sampling &
analysis, comminution, concentration, ​and​ dewatering.

Question 15

optical, density, flotation, magnetic and
electrostatic separation.