The grinding characteristics of quartz which is normally associated with gold bearing ores in Kalgoorlie area was examined in a stainless steel laboratory size ball-mill in the presence of inorganic and organic surface active reagents. The cationic species considered were Fe3+, Cu2+ and Ca2+, and the anions were CO? and S2 as these are normally present during the process of grinding of gold ores in the region. The organic surfactants examined were K-amyl- xanthate, dodecylamine-hydrochloride and the Grinding Aid XFS-4272 manufactured by Dow Chemical The study was primarily based on an examination of the electrokinetic properties of quartz surface in the presence of the grinding reagents._x000D_
Zeta potential at different reagent additions and pH values in the presence of individual reagents were examined and the corresponding grinding charcteristics determined._x000D_
A correlation has been indicated between the grinding characteristics, as measured by the -53um size fraction produced, and the surface energy of quartz. It was observed that an