Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating pyrite from sulfide ores and coal during flotation separation which comprises the depressing of pyrite with from about 0.05 to 0.75 kilograms per ton of concentrate solids, using a pyrite depressant compounds selected from the group consisting ofR1--S (CH.sub.2').sub.n PO (OH).sub.2 (I)wheren is between 2 and 4, andR1 is selected from a group consisting of hydrogen (H) and amidine, and ##STR1## where Ro is a lower alkyl having carbon atoms in a range of 3 to 8 with 3 to 6 being preferred and a final pH in a range of 4 to 9 depending on the ore being processed, and therafter recovering the flotation concentrate thus obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating pyrite from sulfide ores and coal during flotation separation which comprises the depressing of pyrite with from about 0.05 to 0.75 kilograms per ton of concentrate solids using a pyrite depressant compounds selected from the group consisting ofR1, R2, R3 N.sup.+ O.sub.2 H.sub.4 SR4X.sup.- (I)where R1, R2 and R3 are lower alkyls wherein the final sum of the carbon atoms is in a range of 3 to 6, R4 is selected from a group consisting of hydrogen (H) and amidine and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, ##STR1## where Ro is a lower alkyl having carbon atoms in a range of 3 to 8 with 3 to 6 being preferred and a final pH in a range of 4 to 9 depending on the ore being processed, and therafter recovering the flotation concentrate thus obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating pyrite from sulfide ores and coal during flotation separation which comprises the depression of pyrite with from about 0.125 to 1.250 pounds per ton of 2-S thironium-ethane sulfonate (IESA) as a pyrite depressant. The aforementioned depressant is surprisingly effective in pyrite removal, being substantially independent of the pH values of the treated ore or coal, compatible with conventional collector reagents such as xanthates in the case of copper sulfide bearing ores as well as being substantially unobtrusive in not depressing other useful ore sulfides, including but limited to chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcosite, etc.

Abstract: A method for removing inorganic sulfides from finely ground, non-sulfide minerals is provided. A polymeric agent having a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 300,000 and with a plurality of xanthate groups per molecule is admixed into an aqueous suspension including inorganic sulfides and non-sulfide minerals. The polymeric agent adsorbs onto the inorganic sulfides and maintains them as a dispersion while the remaining minerals are selectively separated, as by flocculation.