Froth Flotation vs Gravity Separation
Froth Flotation:
- Uses water and chemicals.
- Minerals that repel water (hydrophobic) stick to bubbles and float.
- Works well for fine ores like copper, zinc, and lead.
Gravity Separation:
- Uses water to wash crushed ore.
- Heavier minerals sink, lighter ones are washed away.
- Works well for heavy metals like gold, tin, and iron.
In short:
- Froth flotation → separates by surface properties.
- Gravity separation → separates by weight (density).