High　gradient　magnetic　separation　technology　is　a　green　production　technology　that　has　an　unparalleled　superiority　in　separating　fine　and　weak　magnetic　particles.　As　the　characteristics　of　poor,　fine,　and　heterogeneous　in　weakly　magnetic　mineral　resources　(hematite,　wolframite,　rhodochrosite,　etc.),　the　importance　of　developing　the　technology　is　constantly　highlighted.　Meanwhile,　the　research　and　development　of　energy-saving,　high-efficiency　and　lightweight　high　gradient　magnetic　separators　(HGMS)　becomes　necessary　to　achieve　the　mining　industry＇s　carbon　neutrality　aim.　This　paper　systematically　summarized　the　magnetic　particle　motion　dynamics　model　and　magnetic　particle　accumulation　model　based　on　the　magnetic　field　distribution.　The　basic　concepts　for　optimizing　the　sorting　effect,　methods　for　reducing　power　consumption　and　magnetic　energy　dissipation　are　also　proposed.　Our　work　proposes　new　theoretical　frameworks　and　perspectives　on　capturing　magnetic　particles　in　HGMSs,　which　facilitates　researchers　to　deepen　their　understanding　of　the　mechanism　of　HGMSs,　and　is　conducive　to　the　further　optimization　of　the　design　and　the　development　of　better　cleaner　production　technologies　for　the　sustainable　development　of　the　iron　and　steel　industry.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.