Abstract: A method of reducing scaling in an alkaline treatment liquor circuit in a metal ore treatment process, in which metal ore is digested in an alkaline medium in a digestion stage to form a suspension of ore residue solids in an aqueous liquor containing metal values, separating the solids from the liquor in a separation stage and then transferring the aqueous liquor containing metal values to a metal values recovery circuit from which the metal values are precipitated and separated from the alkaline liquor, wherein scaling of the surfaces is reduced by introducing into the alkaline liquor an effective amount of polymeric scale suppressant, characterised in that the polymeric suppressant comprises an ammonium or alkali metal salt of a polymer having an average molecular weight below 50,000 and which is a copolymer comprising 30 to 99 weight % ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid moieties and 1 to 70 weight % isobutyl (meth) acrylate moieties.

Abstract: Belt pressing or other pressure dewatering of a high solids mineral suspension is facilitated by flocculating the suspension by mixing into the suspension anionic flocculant having IV at least 5 dl/g and a minor amount of a cationic flocculant which generally has IV at least 4 dl/g. The flocculants are normally such that counterionic precipitation occurs.

Abstract: A process of thickening an aqueous suspension of mineral solids by sedimentation comprising adding to the suspension water-soluble anionic bridging polymeric flocculant having intrinsic viscosity at least 5 dl/g and water-soluble cationic polymeric flocculant, allowing the solids to settle under gravity so as to form a lower underflow fraction containing a concentration of solids greater than that of the suspension and an upper overflow fraction containing a concentration of solids lower than that of the suspension and removing the underflow fraction, characterised in that the anionic and cationic flocculants are added to the suspension as an aqueous composition formed by blending 1 part by weight of the cationic polymeric flocculant with 2 to 99 parts by weight of the anionic polymeric flocculant and sufficient water to give a total polymer concentration of below 5 wt % and under conditions whereby counter-ionic precipitation can occur and in the aqueous composition substantially all of the anionic polymer

Abstract: A process is provided for pelletising a metal ore comprising forming an intimate mixture of particulate ore and a binder in the presence of moisture, forming green pellets by agitation of the mixture and firing the green pellets to produce ore pellets. In the process the binder comprises a hydroxamate polymer made from water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or monomer blend and which has pendant groups of the formula ##STR1## This provides advantages in wet strength, dry strength and drop number of pellets, especially at low moisture content of the pellets.

Abstract: Belt pressing or other pressure dewatering of a high solids mineral suspension is facilitated by flocculating the suspension by mixing into the suspension anionic flocculant having IV at least 5 dl/g and a minor amount of a cationic flocculant which generally has IV at least 4 dl/g. The flocculants are normally such that counterionic precipitation occurs.