The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 17, 1981
Filed:
May. 14, 1980
Charles H Lofthouse, Cornwall, GB;
English Clays Lovering Pochin & Company, Limited, St. Austell, GB;
Abstract
A process for concentrating mica in a mixture of sand and mica is disclosed, which comprises introducing the feed mixture of sand and mica into an upper part of a density separating vessel in which is provided a rising current of an aqueous medium, the velocity of the current being uniform or substantially uniform over a horizontal cross-section of the vessel and being such that all but the least buoyant particles of the mixture are held in suspension as a bed which is gently displaced upwards in the vessel by incoming feed mixture; and passing a slurry which overflows from the vessel over a screen having an aperture size in the range from 210 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m (No. 72 mesh to No. 30 mesh B.S sieve), there being retained on the screen a mixture of sand and mica having a higher percentage content of mica, as calculated in the dry state, than the feed mixture. The mica can be concentrated sufficiently to provide a suitable feed for a subsequent froth flotation process which conventionally requires a mica content of at least 25% by weight.