As-mined or run-of-mine (ROM) ore consists of valuable minerals and gangue (unwanted rock).
Mineral processing follows mining and prepares the ore for the extraction of valuable metals (in the case of metallic ores) or produces a commercial end product (such as iron ore or coal).
Beyond simply regulating the ore’s size, the core objective of mineral processing is to physically separate the valuable mineral grains from the gangue minerals (Wills & Napier-Munn, 2006).
This separation aims to achieve two primary outcomes:
- Concentration: To produce an enriched portion (concentrate) that contains a significantly higher proportion of the valuable minerals.
- Waste Removal: To generate a discard (tailings) that predominantly contains the gangue minerals.
Essentially, the process strives to maximize the valuable mineral content while minimizing waste, thereby creating a product suitable for further refining or direct commercial use.”
Reference:
Wills, B. A., & Napier-Munn, T. (2016). Chapter 1—Introduction. In B. A. Wills & T. J. Napier-Munn (Eds.), Wills’ Mineral Processing Technology (Eighth Edition) (pp. 7). Butterworth-Heinemann. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097053-0.00001-7
