Carrier particle for the froth flotation of fine ores

A froth flotation process for beneficiating finely sized metal or phosphate particles from a finely sized mineral ore pulp comprising floating the finely sized mineral ore pulp in a frothing aqueous medium comprising a collector for the finely sized metal or phosphate particles, a frother and carrier particles in an effective amount for beneficiating the finely sized metal or phosphate particles by flotation, wherein the carrier particles comprise glass;

• calcite;
• magnetite;
• quartz;
• taconite;
• transition metals;
• transition metal oxides and hydrates thereof;
• group IIIA metals, metal oxides and hydrates thereof;
• group IVA metals, oxides, metal oxides and hydrates thereof;
• metal carbonates;
• sulfides;
• or silicates;
• and are adapted for selectively floating the finely sized metal or phosphate particles, have a particle size of between about 10 and 300 microns and a density which is suitable for selectively beneficiating the finely sized metal or phosphate particles by froth flotation and, have a surface treated with a condensation product, or acid derivative of a condensation product, of an alkanolamine with a fatty acid, a fatty acid ester, a dibasic fatty acid or a tribasic fatty acid in a sufficient amount to render the carrier particle sufficiently hydrophobic to float in the frothing aqueous medium and to act as a carrier for the finely sized metal or phosphate particles under conditions such that the finely sized metal or phosphate particles and the carrier particles are recovered in the froth wherein the surface of the carrier particle is treated with the condensation product prior to contacting the carrier particles with the frothing aqueous medium, with the proviso that the condensation product with which the carrier particle is treated is a different compound than the compound used as the collector for the metal or phosphate.