The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1915-02-13
The Oil Flofofion Process

The oil f1otation process rs applied to mining is as
yet a deep mystery to many persons engaged in the min
ing industry. The simple reason is that the men in the best
position to do so will not talk about it. The new process is
involved in patent litigation and there are several claim
ants. In commenting on the situation the Engineering
Journal, in its current issue, says:
We do not recollect any metallurgical process of broad
application and use respecting which such efforts toward
secrecy have been successfully maintained. Toward that
end no stone is left unturned. For eXtmple, a flotation
apparatus is introduced somewhere for experimental pur-
poses. The experiments finished the apparatus, which is
essentially a contraction of timber, is destroyed with axes.
Naturally those concerns which are employing the tlotation
process without license from Mineral Separation and are
liable to be called into court, keep their mouths shut as a
matter of policy.
This situation is likely to prevail until a final decision
in The Hyde case is rendered by the supreme court or the
United States. In the meanwhile the suit against the Mia
Mi Copper company is being prosecuted vigorously and is
expected to come up for trial in Delaware this spring This
suit is expected to bring into couri rev1e" the CaIlow and
1ownc systems of flotation
The flotation process as prac;iced is a matter of deli
cate adjustment. With any given ore experiments may fail
to give any promise whatever, simply because OF failure to
conform to some essential, and usually simple, condition.
The size of the ore, the quantity Of the feed, the tcmpera
ture, etc. must all be just right and especially must reg
ularity of feed be attended to carefully. The fundamental
features of the treatment vary according to different ores.
Thus. in floting the blende of Butte the
addition of acid is necessary. In float
ing the copper ore of Miami the presence of acid is fatal
The character of the oil used also varies according to the
ore. In the treatment of the zinc-1ead ores of Broken Hill!
eucalyptus oil is commonly used. In the treatment OF
the zinc ores of Butte, pine oil, a product of wood distalla-
tion-analogous to the eucalyptus oil of Australia : is
generally used. Sometimes a little oleic acid is added. In
the flotation of copper minerals heavier mineral oils are
used. The choice seems to be more or less dependent upon
what is desired to accomplish. In concentration of copper
ore the aim is to extract all the copper possible and If con.
siderable gangue is dragged out with it, no great harm is
done. In the concentration of blende, however, the produc-
ton OF a high grade of concentrates is more important than
the extraction of the maximum possible percentage OF zinc.
Therefore a lighter more delicate oil is favored. In some
processes of selective f1otation !some oils that are very light
indeed are used. We have touched upon a few of the i'm
portant points in connection with this process that ought
70 be discussed in technical literature, but probably that is
not to be expected so long as the shadow of litigation is