Enhancement of magnetic susceptibility by leaching and application in mineral separation

Enhancement of the magnetic susceptibility of pyrite particles is observed following a mild oxidative pressure leach. This increase is studied for a range of experimental conditions. The increase in susceptibility is attributed to the formation of a thin layer of ferromagnetic oxides. This layer of leach reaction products has been extensively studied using various analytical techniques. The species identified are (gamma)-Fe(,2)O(,3) and Fe(,3)O(,4), which supports a previously postulated reaction model.This leach treatment significantly increases the magnetic susceptibility of coal-pyrite permitting improved high-gradient magnetic desulfurization of a high pyritic sulfur coal.The leach treatment also enhances the magnetic susceptibility of other iron-containing mineral sulfides. However, application of this leach pretreatment in sulfide/sulfide separations is limited due to galvanic coupling effects which passivate the susceptibility increase reaction. In the presence of oxides, coal and probably other non-sulfides passivation does not occur and the susceptibility of the iron-bearing sulfide increases. The potential exists for the application of the leach as a pretreatment in enhancing fine iron-containing sulfide/non-sulfide magnetic separations