DEPENDENCE OF THE FLOATABILITY OF ANTIMONITE ON THE VALUE OF ZETA-POTENTIAL

The case of flotation of a 'bulk' hydrophobic mineral in the absence o f a collector is considered. The theory developed takes into considera tion the van der Waals and electrostatic forces and leads to a simple quantitative criterion of floatability containing the zeta-potential. Experiments with the flotation of antimonite confirm the theory and th e quantitative form of criterion of floatability revealing the role of zeta-potential.