Method and apparatus for separating particles

THIS invention relates to particle separation according to the dielectric and electrophysical properties of the particles. In one application the invention relates to the separation of mineral particles according to their dielectric and electrophysical properties. The invention concerns a method and apparatus for separating mineral particles according to their dielectric and/or electrophysical properties. In one practical example, rutile particles can be separated from zircon particles. In the method, the mineral particles which are to be separated are passed through a sharply non-homogenous electrical field. Particles with different dielectric and/or electrophysical properties are subjected to different forces which separate them spatially. The spatially separated particles are collected in discrete fractions.