Demagnetization of Magnetite Between the Drums of a Magnetic Separator

Abstract

It is well known that commercial magnetic separators do not totally remove liberated silica slimes. In general, a taconite plant's final magtietic product could be reduced in silica grade by I to 2 percentage points if all of the liberated silica slimes were removed. The actual amount of reduction can be determined by running a standard Davis tube test on the material. It was thought that part of the reason for the slimes being present in the product is that they become trapped in the magnetic floes that form in the first drum of a magnetic separator and that these floes are not broken up between the drums of a commercial separator, which can have up to four drums in sen es.