TECHNICAL PROGRAM / SYMPOSIA

5^th UBC-McGill Bi-Ennial International Symposium on Fundamentals of Mineral Processing - Particle Size Enlargement in Mineral Processing

Numerous ores contain valuable minerals in finely disseminated form. Diminishing raw material resources necessitates the recovery of such mineral values. As a result, one of the most important topics in the mineral processing related research has been fine grinding and mineral particles liberation. Very fine grinding is not only expensive but the efficiency of recovering fine particles may be so low that often such particles must be discarded as slimes. Increasing quantities of fines present a major technological, economic and environmental challenge for resource-based industries. The major developments in processing finely ground feeds include the processes in which fine particles of valuable minerals are selectively aggregated (agglomerated, flocculated, etc.) prior to flotation, but also totally non-selective particle enlargement processes aimed at improving solid/liquid separation and final product handleability. Symposium topics will include:

1. fine particle enlargement in separation processes such as oil agglomeration and agglomerate flotation (e.g. oil agglomeration of fine coal, coal/gold oil agglomeration, etc.), flocculation and floc-flotation, carrier flotation, selective magnetic coating to improve separation efficiency;
2. particle enlargement in tailings disposal for example through flocculation and paste technology; and
3. particle size enlargement of the final separation products (e.g. pelletization, briquetting, etc.) to improve their handleability.