Patent ID: 8827079

Claim:
A magnetic reagent for separating a value mineral from a non-value mineral, said reagent comprising: a plurality of magnetite microparticles having an average diameter of less than 50 microns; and a compound of formula (I), R—(CONH—O—X) n (I) wherein the compound of formula (I) has a molecular weight of about 2,000 or less; n is an integer from 1 to 3; each X is individually selected from the group consisting of H, M and NR′ 4 , wherein M is a metal ion; and each R′ is individually selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 6 -C 10 aryl, and C 7 -C 10 aralkyl; R comprises from about 1 to about 50 carbons; and wherein the plurality of magnetite microparticles and the compound of formula (I) are present in a weight ratio of magnetite microparticles: compound of formula (I) from about 10:1 to about 1:10.