Water of Increased Ionic Strength and Spiked Ion Concentrations on Surface Interactions with Labradorite

Labradorite is a beautiful and popular mineral known for its iridescent play of color. Labradorite is commonly found in igneous rocks and belongs to the feldspar group of minerals. Labradorite is primarily composed of calcium, sodium, aluminum, and silicon. Labradorite has various uses, such as as an ornamental stone, as well as many industrial applications, such as being an additive in ceramics and in glassmaking. Understanding its behaviour under various water conditions is therefore important to consider. This study therefore examines the behaviour of labradorite in changing water chemistry. The results of this study showed that the adsorption of sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, a polysaccharide often used in flotation as a depressant with binding properties, is enhanced in water of high ionic strength and spiked ion concentrations. It was also shown that the electrokinetic potential of labradorite increased in water of higher ionic strength and in spiked ion concentrations, thus demonstrating a passivation effect at the mineral surface. The findings of this study can be extended to implications on the behaviour of the feldspar group of minerals which are commonly present as gangue minerals in sulfide ore mineral flotation. These findings may also be useful for ceramics and glass-making industries where labradorite is used as an additive.