Experimental Production of Feldspar and Silica from Several River Sands in Kansas

Abstract

Six river and flood-plain sand samples from the vicinity of Kansas City, Wichita, Concordia, and Salina were treated by flotation methods to determine the feasibility of producing a feldspar concentrate and a silica concentrate for use in glass, glass fiber, and ceramic and allied industries. The following average values are from five of these tests: a feldspar concentrate yield of 27.1 percent with an average alkali content (K₂O+Na₂O) of 13.2 percent and a molecular ratio of K₂O to Na₂O of 3.6 to 1. The silica sand residue remaining after flotation of the feldspar is capable of being concentrated to an Fe₂O₃ content of less than 0.03 percent. These tests show that both a silica sand and feldspar product of commercial grade can be produced from the sand sampled at Concordia, Kansas City, and Wichita.