Flotation Study of Synthetic Plagioclase with Sodium Oleate

An experimental study of flotation behavior on synthetic plagioclase with sodium oleate was conducted as an approach to the fundamental flotation investigation using synthetic minerals. Plagioclase solid solutions containing 25,50,75 and 100 mol. per cent of anorthite were synthesized by crystallizing the respective amorphous glasses which had been prepared by solid reaction from the pure chemical starting materials. The degrees of crystallization for synthesized plagioclase were evaluated from the data of half maximum intensity width and peak height on the X-ray powder diffraction peaks, and comparison of specific gravity and refractive index data with the published ones also showed that the synthesized plagioclase were pure enough for furthur flotation tests. A series of modified Hallimond tube flotation tests with sodium oleate as a collector was carried out on the -35+48 mesh fraction of the synthetic plagioclase containing 25,50,75 and 100 mol. per cent anorthite. The highest flotation recovery obtained for anorthite sample between pH 7.0 and 8.5 was directly responsible for an insoluble calcium oleate compound formed at the surface calcium sites. It was also cleared out the flotation recovery decreased sharply with increased amount of albite content in the plagioclase.