The effect of ionic strength of plant water on valuable mineral and gangue recovery in a platinum bearing ore from the Merensky reef

As the restrictions on water usage become more prevalent throughout the world, mining operations are required to understand the impact that water recycling will have on them. Not only owing to operational needs, but also from an environmental stand point. As would be expected recycling is likely to lead to increased dissolved ions, increasing the ionic strength, which may impact plant performance. By conducting flotation tests under varying degrees of ionic strength of synthetic plant water it is possible to better understand the effect that water recycling could have on the recovery of a mining operation. The effect of such an increase in ionic strength is discussed.