In the present work flotation concentration of 4 types of barite was investigated, aiming for at least 60% of BaO and less than 6% of SiO2 in the concentrate. Flotation testing of different collectors, alone and in combinations, was performed. Because of the the presence of sulfides in the samples, a prior sulfide flotation step was performed for their removal in order to warrant the highest BaO final grades. The best results of the four barite samples showed that the objective was achieved with the BaO grade higher than 64%, the SiO2 grade lower than 3,3% at a BaO recovery of at least 79%. The concentration route for each barite was different; in the blue barite the best collectors were cetyl-sterayl sulfate and soy bean oil, in the white barite was the mix of sulfossuccinate and sulfonic acid, in the T3 barite was the soy bean oil and in the so called tailing barite was the sulfossucinate.
Flotation; barite; collectors
