Abstract

The magnetic flocculation behaviour of two kinds of iron oxide mineral (hematite—1 and hematite—2) was studied by using a new experimental device, in which a stirred container was set in an applied magnetic field. Magnetic flocculation of both minerals occurred in very low applied magnetic fields. Hematite—1 is a strongly paramagnetic mineral, the flocculation recovery improved with increased magnetic field strength and particle size. For hematite—2 the relationship between the flocculation recovery and magnetic field strength was more complex. It was also found that the method used conventionally to calculate the magnetic interaction between particles is not suitable for strongly paramagnetic minerals, such as hematite—1.