A method of separating grains of valuable minerals, precious metals, rare-earth metals, precious and semi-precious stones from natural ores in the aquatic environment by means of the phenomenon of adhesion, comprising:
- initial separation consisting of sieving fractions up to 5000 μm from alluvial (rubble) ore or crushing primary (rock) ore to a fraction causing the separation of valuable minerals from gangue;
- forming a suspension by mixing the initially separated fraction of ore with water;
- adsorption of valuable minerals from the suspension on an adhesive coating and also recovering water from the process;
- wherein lanolin or its mixtures with additives are used to form the adhesive coating on surfaces on the separator;
- and desorption of particles of valuable minerals from the adhesive coating;
- wherein the content of lanolin in the mixtures is not less than 80%.