Study on the Flotation Behavior and Mechanism of Rhodochrosite and Calcite

The surface electrical behavior and flotation behavior of rhodochrosite and calcite were studied in the paper.The flotation tests,Zeta potential measurements and SEM-EDAX measurements show that Mn2+,which dissolved from rhodochrosite in artificial mixed mineral flotation experiments,can be absorbed on the calcite surface,and this makes the surface property of calcite transfer to rhodochrosite.According to the solution chemistry calculation,the amount of Mn2+ which dissolved from rhodochrosite is so great enough that it leads to the precipitation of MnCO3 on calcite surface.Therefore these two minerals'surface properties tend to be similar.This is the main reason why it is difficult to achieve the flotation separation of rhodochrosite and calcite.