45 Questions
What is the primary purpose of separating minerals from waste rock?
To make the minerals usable
What is hand sorting commonly used for?
Alluvial diamond mining in rivers
What is the role of electromagnets in magnetic separation?
To generate a magnetic field to attract magnetic minerals
What is the principle behind density separation?
The difference in density between minerals and waste rock
Which of the following is an example of density separation?
Panning for gold
What is the purpose of conveyor belts in magnetic separation?
To carry the ore past electromagnets
Why are electromagnets useful in magnetic separation?
Because they can be turned on and off as needed
What is the primary basis for separating gold from waste material in panning?
Density
What is the purpose of size separation in mining?
To classify ore for export
What is the role of chemicals in the flotation process?
To make minerals hydrophobic
What is the outcome of the flotation process?
Valuable minerals are separated from waste rock
What is the main limitation of physical separation methods?
They are not sufficient for separating minerals in chemical compounds
What is the purpose of chemical separation in mining?
To break chemical bonds and separate elements from compounds
What is the primary goal of separating minerals from waste rock in mining?
To ensure the efficient extraction and processing of valuable minerals
What is the outcome of the chemical separation process?
The desired element is separated from the compound
What is the main purpose of panning for gold?
To separate gold from waste material based on density
What is the primary use of size separation in mining?
To classify ore for export
What is the outcome of the flotation process?
Hydrophobic minerals are skimmed off
What is the main limitation of physical separation methods?
They are not sufficient for separating minerals that are part of chemical compounds
What is the role of air bubbles in the flotation process?
To carry hydrophobic minerals to the surface
What is the purpose of chemical separation in mining?
To break chemical bonds holding atoms together
What is the outcome of using chemicals in the flotation process?
Valuable minerals become hydrophobic
Why are physical separation methods often sufficient for separating minerals like coal or iron ore?
Because they can be separated based on density or size
What is the main advantage of using hand sorting in separating minerals from waste rock?
It is a manual method that can be used by individuals.
What is the primary function of the conveyor belts in magnetic separation?
To carry the ore past the electromagnets.
What is the main difference between magnetic separation and density separation?
The physical property used to separate the minerals.
Which of the following is NOT a common method used to separate minerals from waste rock?
Electromagnetic separation.
What is the main purpose of the electromagnets in magnetic separation?
To separate magnetic minerals from non-magnetic waste.
What is the outcome of the density separation process?
The separation of dense minerals from lighter waste material.
Which of the following separation methods is commonly used by individuals, such as alluvial diamond miners?
Hand sorting.
What is the primary advantage of using magnetic separation over hand sorting?
It can be used on an industrial scale.
What is the primary reason why electromagnets are useful in magnetic separation?
They can be turned on and off as needed.
Which of the following statements is true about density separation?
It involves using the difference in density between minerals and waste rock to separate them.
What is the primary limitation of hand sorting?
It is only effective for very large, visually distinguishable pieces of mineral.
Which of the following is a common application of density separation?
Panning for gold.
What is the primary function of the conveyor belts in magnetic separation?
To carry the ore past electromagnets that attract the magnetic iron ore.
What is the primary difference between magnetic separation and density separation?
Magnetic separation is based on magnetic properties, while density separation is based on density differences.
What is the primary reason why physical separation methods are often sufficient for separating minerals like coal or iron ore?
Because they have distinct physical properties
What is the main mechanism by which valuable minerals are separated from waste rock in the flotation process?
Hydrophobicity and air bubbles
What is the primary goal of chemical separation in mining?
To break chemical bonds and separate the desired element
What is the main limitation of physical separation methods in mining?
They are not effective for separating minerals with similar physical properties
What is the purpose of adding chemicals to the slurry in the flotation process?
To change the surface properties of the minerals
What is the primary difference between panning for gold and size separation?
One is used for density separation, while the other is used for size separation
What is the outcome of the chemical separation process?
The breaking of chemical bonds holding the desired element
Why are chemicals added to the slurry in the flotation process?
To make the valuable minerals hydrophobic
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