Flotation reagent

Claim 1

IN THE ORE DRESSING ART IN WHICH SYLVITE IS CONCENTRATED FROM COARSE SYLVINITE ORES CRUSHED AND SIZED TO ABOUT -6 TO +28 MESH RANGE, DESLIMED AND THEN SUSPENDED IN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE SOLUBLE CONSTITUENTS OF THE ORE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES CONDITIONING A PULP OF THE ORE WITH SMALL AND EFFECTIVE AMOUNTS OF AN ALIPHATIC AMINE TO SELECTIVELY COAT SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE SYLVITE CONSTITUENT, AND THEN ADDING TO THE AMINE COATING ON THE CONDITIONED ORE A NON-POLAR HIGHLY HYDROPHOBIC MODIFIER CONSISTING OF HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT ALCOHOLS, SAID MODIFIERS BEING MISCIBLE WITH SAID AMINE COLLECTOR AND NOT SELECTIVELY ATTRACTED TO THE POTASSIUM CONSTITUENT WHEREBY TO PRODUCE A COATING ON THE SYLVITE CONSTITUENT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY MORE HYDROPHOBIC THAN AN AMINE COATING, CONDITIONING SAID MIXTURE AND THEN SUBJECTING SAID CONDITIONED ORE TO A FROTHLESS FLOTATION IN WHICH A SLURRY OF THE CONDITIONED ORE IS AERATED TO PRODUCE AN UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE PARTICLES SUSPENDED THEREIN AND IN WHICH THE SELECTIVELY COATED SYLVITE WILL FLOAT ON THE SURFACE OF THE BRINE IN THE ABSENCE OF A FROTH BED.