The principles and operation of a very high intensity magnetic mineral separator

A magnetic separator is described which employs a superconducting quadrupole magnet. The magnet is installed in a vertical cylindrical cryostat with hollow central portion. The magnetic forces are substantially in the radial direction. The results of trial experiments are described with various configurations of mineral slurries and wash water streams. In the preferred configuration, mineral slurry travels around the outer circumference of the cryostat and is subject to both a powerful magnetic field and a swirling action of the flow due to secondary circulation in the channel. Separation results for a single pass of a chromite silicate mixture are presented. The separator with superconducting coils is able to offer important advantages in treating ores of both finer size and lower magnetic susceptibility than conventional machines.