Beneficiation of nonmetallic minerals

Claim 1

AN ELECTROSTATIC PROCESS FOR BENEFICIATING A NONMETALLIC, SUBSTANTIALLY NON-CONDUCTIVE MINERAL WHICH COMPRISES COMMINUTING THE MINERAL TO A PARTICLE SIZE OF BETWEEN ABOUT 14 AND ABOUT 200 MESH TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY LIBERATE THE VALUE COMPONENTS FROM THE GANGUE; HEATING THE COMMINUTED MINERAL TO A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 150*F., CAUSING THE MINERAL PARTICLES WITHOUT CHEMICAL PRETREATMENT, IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EXTERNAL ELECTRICAL FIELD AND WHILE AT A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 150*F., TO ACCEPT DIFFERENTIAL CHARGES ESSENTIALLY BY PARTICLE-TO-PARTICLE CONTACT; AND THEREAFTER SUBJECTING THE DIFFERENTIALLY CHARGED PARTICLES AS FREE FALLING BODIES AND WHILE AT A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 150*F. TO AN ELECTROSTATIC FIELD TO BENEFICIATE THE MINERAL WITHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY ALTERING THE CHARGE ON THE PARTICLES WHILE IN THE ELECTRIC FIELD.