Effect of microwave heating on magnetic separation of pyrite

The effect of microwave heating on magnetic processing of pyrite was investigated. Different size fractions of pyrite were treated (heated) in a microwave oven at 2.45 GHz frequency and different power levels. The microwave treated pyrite samples of −420 μm fraction were subjected to magnetic separation at magnetic field intensities of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 T. It was found that pyrite was converted to such ferromagnetic minerals as pyrothite and γ-hematite, and magnetic separation recovery was improved after microwave treatment.