Low Cost

• Magnetized iron sand separators are relatively inexpensive. The "drum" style separator is the most popular. In the drum model, a stream of black sand is dropped onto the outside of a magnetized metallic cylinder or drum. Only the strongly magnetic particles stick to it. They then remain stuck until they are scraped off and collected. The Mine Engineer website confirms that unless high-intensity separators are necessary, magnetic separation is a low-cost method of ore recovery. Sand separators are even less costly than other separators as sand's fine particles do not need to be further broken down before separation.
  
  

Automated

• Magnetized iron sand separation is a process that lends itself easily to automation.
  
  Richisland Technology's magnetic separation automation system lists its simplicity as one of its virtues. The company says that its model can be left unattended and needs only regular inspections. Xinhai Machinery, which sells a similar product, also touts its machine's simplicity and ease of maintenance. This reduced labor intensity is a major advantage of the magnetized iron sand separator.
  
  

Efficient

• Magnetic separation requires far less space than other separation methods. Without a magnetized sand separator, metal must either be separated chemically or by heating the sand.
  
  Heating the sand melts the metal while leaving the attached silicates intact. Separating the metal chemically means finding space for a chemical or water bath. Melting the sand requires high temperatures and is energy intensive; it can also mean the creation of carbon monoxide, a greenhouse gas, as a byproduct. A magnetized iron sand separator takes up far less space than a chemical bath. Much of the space it does use is vertical rather than horizontal. This allows the separator to fit into smaller buildings and work spaces.
  
  

Customization and Versatility

• Magnetized iron sand separators come in many shapes and sizes. Spherotech Inc., an Illinois-based company, says its Fleximag Separator can even be used for such delicate operations as cell separation in laboratories. According to the company's web page, the same model can be used by commercial facilities for high-volume processing. Different strengths of magnet are available depending on whether the concern wishes to collect particles with weak magnetism. Specialized, high-intensity separators can be more expensive.