The present investigation on the action of a frother in flotation was undertaken in order to make clear the composition of some typical commercial frothers and to clarify its influence on the floatability of mineral particles in view of the mineral-to-frother wettability.
In the first place, the chemical composition of the commercial frothers tested was determined by gas chromatography. Then, the floatability of galena was measured by flotation tests using each of pure reagents such as a-terpineol, cineol and D-limonene, and their mixtures. The galena-to-frother wettability was determined by means of capillary penetration tests using each of the same pure reagents and mixtures.
Results obtained are as follows;
I. The frothers used in the tests contained large amounts of a-terpineol, small amounts of cineol and D-limonene, and others (monocyclic terpenes such as terpinolene and dipentene).
2. The floatability of galena and the galena-to-frother wettability increased with increasing the content of D-limonene in the frother.
3. The floatability of galena and the galena-to-frother wettability had a good correlation to each other.
From these results, it can be considered that the role of D-limonene is not only to keep a good frothing chracteristic but also to intensify the floatability of galena in floaation. It seems that in the action of a frother the affinity between the frothing agent and the mineral particle is an important factor in flotation.

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The method using air flow is investigated to dress particles in similar density from some sorts of same size particles. Each gravity centers of distribution of similar weight particle have to keep some distance on the gravitational section to get the effective result by this method. To acquire the distance between gravity centers, in the first place, the gravity centers must be defined. Then the purpose of this article is to state on the calculation method of gravity center.
A co-ordinate of gravity center can get from the equation of motion concerning a representative particle, because it can be considered that a curve put the points of gravity centers in a row is a path line of the representative particle.
Results gained by this way are examined by experiments used glass beads.

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With many sorts of particles, the results of experiments on the gravity center of particle distribution in air duct flow are shown here. And it is recognized that the calculation method reported in previous paper (I) is reasonable by its results.
Next, how to get the dressing efficiency by calculation method and some results of the experiment on dressing efficiency are reported.

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The recent situation of mining industry in Australia was informed in this paper by some data which author got during my stay in Australia. Australia is well-known as the country reserving many kinds of mineral resources. Japan is the biggest one of countries which are importing so much such the mineral resources of Australia as iron ore, coal and etc. Thus, it is important that Australia and Japan maintain the intimate relationships and mutual benefits in the mining industry. Author thinks we should do our best in order to continue the friendly and permanent relations of the mining industry between Australia and Japan in the future.

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