A study has been made into the influence of feed size distribution on the flotation response of coal. The results show that a full description of the flotation response of a coal must not only consider the inherent floatability of the coal, but also, the size distribution of the feed to flotation. The performances of a number of flotation circuits were compared using a coal which was "poorly floating" because of its size distribution._x000D_
Split feed flotation, two stage reagent addition, and reflotation of classified tailings all gave better yields than that obtained by conventional single stage flotation._x000D_
The optimum flotation circuit for the washing of the coal in question, was reflotation of classified tailings.