The strengths of the gaustec high-intensity magnetic separator are its high separation precision and its enormous flexibility. The unit separates paramagnetic and feebly magnetic minerals of up to 3 mm grain size in a wet separation process with magnetic field strengths of up to 15,000 Gauss. The main application is the enrichment of hematite iron ores; other applications include the extraction of heavy minerals and the separation of undesirable iron contaminants from vitreous sand.
The gaustec separator has two rotors, one above the other, which move through a magnetic field. Each rotor receives feed at two points. The material to be separated flows into the so-called matrix boxes, which consist of grooved metal plates. Magnetic and paramagnetic particles adhere to these plates in the area of the magnetic field, while non-magnetic materials flow through. In a non-magnetized zone, the adhering particles are washed out of these matrix boxes. The magnetic field strength can be adjusted for each rotor individually, so that the lower rotor can also be used for subsequent cleaning. The gaustec separator's throughput rates range from 6 to 200 tons per hour.