A comparison of
Figs. 7 and 8 reveals that gold flotation shows some similarities
to copper flotation in response to the addition of bentonite. For
instance, the addition of bentonite at greater than 5% concentration
decreased gold recovery corresponding to higher apparent viscosity
values. As a result, bentonite also deteriorated gold flotation
through the increased pulp viscosity at a high concentration. However,
the addition of bentonite at 5% and kaolinite (Snobrite and
Q38) at up to 15% which produced relatively lower apparent viscosity
values enhanced gold flotation. For example, gold recovery
was increased from 77% to 81% with the addition of 5% bentonite
and to 88% with the addition of 15% Snobrite or Q38.