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GATE 2023 MT – Question 17

Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy · Mineral beneficiation · 1 mark · Multiple choice

The most effective concentration step for sulfide ores is

  1. Froth flotation
  2. Magnetic separation
  3. Gravity separation
  4. Electrostatic separation

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (A) Froth flotation

Explanation

Froth flotation exploits selective surface hydrophobicity: sulfide particles attach to bubbles after suitable reagent conditioning and report to froth. This is the standard effective concentration route for many sulfide ores.

Thus **A** rather than a primarily density- or magnetism-based method.