Patent ID: 7510083

Claim:
A process for separating a mineral from a slurry including a mineral and impurities, comprising: providing a vessel for containing at least the slurry and having a first, open end and a second closed end, the second closed end having a controlled outlet; introducing the slurry into a first, open end of a feed well near the first end of the vessel at a first rate; providing aerated water in a direction from the first end of the feed well to a second, closed end of the feed well via one or more pipes, each pipe having an opening into the feed well near the second end of the feed well, wherein the aerated water releases air bubbles that move from the second end of the feed well towards the first end of the feed well, creating a froth in the feed well including substantially the mineral; separating the mineral froth from the impurities and floating the froth out of the first end of the feed well towards the first end of the vessel; collecting the mineral froth; and allowing the impurities and any un-separated mineral to fall by gravity towards the second end of the vessel.