Module 1: Introduction to Mineral Processing

Mineral processing sometimes called ore dressing or mineral dressing deals with the preparation of the ore for extraction of the valuable metal(s) in the case of metallic ores but produces a commercial end product of non-metallic minerals for non-metallic ores. The processing of ores is commonly regarded as the direct treatment of raw minerals to yield marketable products and waste. The term ore dressing is usually confined to the mechanical separation of valuable minerals from the valueless material of an ore, whereby the valuable minerals are collected into smaller bulk without affecting the physical and chemical identity of the minerals. However, with the chemical processing of lean and complex ores, it is not possible to restrict the treatment of ores only by mechanical methods, as various chemical methods for the treatment of some ores are invariably employed for the economic recovery of valuables. Thus, the subject may be covered under a broad title known as ore processing, which includes any treatment physical or chemical, given to raw ores directly, in order to effect the economic recovery of valuables.