Based　on　the　magnetic　dipole　theory　of　magnetic-field　distribution,　the　forces　acting　on　ferromagnetic　mineral　particles　(FMMPs)　in　the　magnetic　separation　process　were　calculated　in　detail　and　a　macro-scale　dynamic　model　of　magnetic　agglomeration　(MA)　of　particle　swarms　was　established.　A　calculation　method　toward　the　dynamic　model　was　proposed,　and　the　two-dimensional　dynamic　process　of　the　interaction　between　FMMPs　was　simulated.　Furthermore,　the　energy　conversion　of　single　mineral　particles　to　magnetic　chains　(MCs)　was　also　analyzed.　The　results　show　that　magnetic　dipole-dipole　attraction　(MDDA)　acting　on　FMMPs　was　the　primary　force　in　the　magnetic　separation　process,　and　the　dynamic　process　of　MC　formation　from　single　mineral　particles　was　closely　related　to　time,　distance　between　particles,　and　the　external　magnetic-field　orientation.　For　FMMPs　arranged　in　chain　structures　oriented　along　the　external　magnetic　field,　the　time　required　for　FMMPs　to　form　MCs　was　less　than　50　ms.　In　addition,　the　optimum　time　for　MC　destruction　was　in　the　initial　stages　(less　than　5　ms)　of　the　MC-formation　process;　either　removal　of　the　permanent　magnet　or　discontinuation　of　the　excitation　current　was　the　most　direct　and　efficient　way　to　fragment　MCs　once　formed.　©　2014　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.