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By B. McFadzean, S. Geldenhuys

"Dynamic froth stability tests have found widespread application to quantify froth performance. However, little to no attention has been given to scale parameters in the performance of these measurements. One of the most frequently changing scale parameters in the laboratory scale is the column diameter as this directly influences the amount of material needed for testing. Four different column diameters (50, 100, 200 and 300 mm) were used for this study. Column diameter experiments were done on an industrial scale by means of manual tracking of froth growth versus time. An increase in measured dynamic stability was seen with increasing froth column diameter, which reached a limiting value at large column sizes. It is thought that this behaviour is controlled by the differences in drainage rates of the bulk froth compared to froth in contact with the wall. The column diameter required to represent full-scale froth stability is proposed. A ratio of column surface area to total bubble surface area was used to correct for different column diameters.INTRODUCTIONThe froth phase in flotation contributes significantly to the overall performance of the process (Zanin, et al., 2009). Numerous parameters have been investigated to quantify froth performance, most notably froth recovery (Feteris, et al., 1987; Seaman, et al., 2004; Vera, et al., 1999). Experimentally gathering data to determine froth recovery is challenging and for this reason froth stability has been highlighted as a possible alternative.Froth/foam stability is defined as the time of persistence of the froth/foam and is affected by numerous factors, such as: drainage of the liquid in the lamellae (gravitational and capillary), viscosity at the bubble surface, thickness of the electrical double layer and gas diffusion through liquid films caused by pressure differences between bubbles (Aktas, et al., 2008; Beneventi, et al., 2001). It is well documented in both froth and foam literature that froth/foam stability will heavily influence the performance and appearance of the froth/foam phase (Ata, 2012; Farrokhpay, 2011; Weaire, et al., 2005). Experimentally this has been explicitly proven as an increase in froth stability, characterised by water recovery, usually results in an increase in both valuable mineral and solids recovery (Wiese, et al., 2011; Banford, et al., 1998)."

Jan 1, 2018

By Yessengaziyev Azamat, Almagul Ultarakova, Onayev Murat, Barkytova Botakoz

"The research is aimed at solving the processing of waste products of titanium-magnesium production. The aim of the research is to extract synthetic carnallite and industrial products enriched with niobium from waste products of titanium-magnesium production. Analysis of the current state of the titanium and magnesium production in the Republic of Kazakhstan shows the availability of significant amounts of chloride wastes containing valuable components. Magnesium and potassium with an average content of 50-60 % potassium chlorides, 25-30 % magnesium chlorides are lost in the wastes of the titanium and magnesium production. Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium Magnesium Plant JSC (UKTMP) currently imports carnallite that is a KCl-MgCl2X6H2O binary salt at quite high prices. Chloride wastes of titanium production, sublimates of dust chambers of a titanium chlorinator, sludge of a magnesium electrolytic unit and sludge of a carnallite chlorinator has been chosen as the targets of our research. The analysis of niobium distribution within any solid waste of a titanium slag chlorination process in UKTMP JSC showed that the highest content of niobium is in the sublimates of dust chambers of a titanium chlorinator in the ranges from 0.26 to 1.0 %. Among the niobium extraction technologies considered, the known method of its extraction from the chloride waste is leaching with weak solutions of mineral acids or alkalis in order to convert the chloride salts into the solution to be used for synthetic carnallite extraction. Besides niobium, other impurity components are transferred to the cake and shall be separated from the base metals. The effective method for this is the chlorination process enabling niobium transfer into the sublimates in the form of chlorides and thus separating it from the majority of the impurities. The condensed niobium chlorides are hydrolyzed transferring it into sediments in the form of oxide. New ways of processing waste products of titanium-magnesium production with the receipt of marketable products are relevant in the development of processing of mineral raw materials."

Jan 1, 2018

By Jingzhong Kuang, Zheyu Huang, Chuanzhou Guo, Pengfei Liu

"In this paper, scheelite and scheelite coated with Pb2+ (SC) were synthesized by chemical precipitation with the help of ultrasonic. The role of the Pb2+ on scheelite was evaluated. Additionally, the dissolution behavior of minerals and the adsorption mechanism of collectors were investigated systematically via SEM, XRD, EDS. The results indicate that the ultrasonic cavitation can promote the formation of scheelite with large particle size and high crystallinity. Due to the exchange of WO4 2- and OH-, the dissolution of scheelite are not in a 1:1 equivalent amount by chemical formula and the concentration of WO4 2- is higher than that of Ca2+ in the solution because Pb2+ promotes the transfer of WO4 2- from scheelite surface into the solution. The dissolution of scheelite is an endothermic reaction and its enthalpy reaches the maximum value of 692.59J·mol-1 at pH=8~10. But the coating of Pb2+ changes the thermal effect of scheelite in the solution and the dissolution of SC is an exothermic reaction with the dissolution enthalpy of -262.30 J·mol-1. At pH=8~10, the adsorption capacity of sodium oleate and salicylhydroxamic acid on the surface of SC is higher than that of scheelite which delivers that Pb2+ contributes to the scheelite surface dissolution and enhances the adsorption of collectors on the mineral surface, thus achieving activation.INTRODUCTIONIn modern society, tungsten is a type of quite important rare metal and also a strategic resource. Because of its low vapor pressure, high melting point, good electrical and thermal conductivity properties, it is widely applied in high-temperature technology, lighting, machine and engine construction (Zhao,Z.W, 2013; Yan, W, 2017; Ilhan, S, 2013). Both scheelite and wolframite are the major tungsten deposits. With the depletion of easily-processed wolframite, scheelite has drawn a great deal of scientific and industrial attention. Scheelite can be recovered by flotation due to the metathesis of polarity and chargeability on minerals surface via adding regulators and collectors."

Jan 1, 2018

By B. Courtaud

Uranium plants are generally located quite far from conversion plants, resulting in high transport costs. One way of reducing such costs involves putting more uranium in each drum by increasing the final product?s bulk density, which can be achieved via mechanical compaction of the powder and/or improved precipitation. For most of its plants, AREVA has adopted the latter approach, involving a new precipitation process applicable to all kinds of yellowcake produced (via uranates, uranium peroxide, etc.) that achieves bulk density of 3 for soda uranate, for example, instead of the 1.5-2 density available via conventional processes. At present, this process is being undertaken on an industrial scale and will become the norm for precipitation processes at all AREVA U plants. In addition to producing dense yellowcake, the process also delivers a product with no fines, a spherical particle shape (which allows for high-quality powder flow) and superior post-precipitation filterability

Sep 1, 2012

By I. Baltov

The Chelopech Mine, located in Central Bulgaria, is one of Europe?s largest underground copper- gold mines, currently mines and processes approximately one million tonnes of ore per year. Copper concentrates containing gold and silver with significant arsenic content are produced and sold on the world markets. The operation was acquired by Dundee Precious Metals in 2003. A modernization program for the Mine and Plant has since been in progress to increase both production and mechanical reliability, and also to optimize metallurgical recoveries. Since then, mine output and plant throughput have doubled, plant availabilities and utilization have increased significantly, and overall metallurgical performance for copper and gold improved. The paper presents the systematic approach for obtaining and analyzing data, communicating it, and making suggestions for changes to the technological parameters and flowsheet in order to maximize metal recoveries. These studies have correlated the ore characteristics (particle size distributions, metal assays, and Cu and Au mineralogical and phase analyses) with the actual plant performance (kinetics, recoveries, and throughput). Cu recovery by size has been calculated from the mineralogical analyses of feed, concentrate and tails, with the most significant losses being identified in terms of fraction and phase recoveries. This has provided the recommendations (some of them tested in plant) for changes in the grinding and flotation circuits.

Jan 1, 2014

By Sanchita Chakravarty, Sumantra Bhattacharya, Divya Jyoti, A. K. Mukherjee, Soni Jaiswal

"Release analysis is independent of collector and frother dosage and type, but it is primarily influenced by the degree of liberation or “state of release of the sample”. The shape of release curve is an indication of the degree of liberation. This paper briefs about the effect of reagent combination, particle size and surface characteristics on the release analysis of difficult-to-clean LVC coal.Release analysis of three LVC coal fines obtained from two different coalfields of India was carried out at three different size levels such as -0.5mm, (-0.5+0.1) mm, and -0.1mm. The collectors used were n-dodecane and commercial diesel oil. Incomplete liberation of coal fines even at a size of -100µm, corroborated by photomicrographs of ROM and clean coal macerals, in a great measure reduced the flotation-based cleaning potential of the fines. FESEM images of fines reveals that the adherence of ultrafine onto the surface of relatively coarser particles reduced the clean coal recovery. The results obtained also appear to be coal, reagent combination and, particle size and particle surface specific. Only one coal indicated the liberation as is usually expected for -0.1mm particles with a reasonable yield of 65% at 18% ash. INTRODUCTION Froth flotation has a long history of being used to treat coal fines. Coal flotation is considered to be difficult, if the percentage of Near Gravity Material (NGM), i.e. essentially locked particles, in flotation feed is >10% [Aplan, 1993], which is usually the case with all the coking coal fines in India. The fines are rich in vitrinite, so valuable for coking coal. Unfortunately, there appears to be no standard procedures to determine the separation efficiency of froth floatation. Release analysis proposed by C.C. Dell in 1953 [Dell, 1953], aimed to determine the ultimate floatability of coal. Several other techniques had been proposed but release analysis technique has been considered to be a vast improvement over the batch flotation process [Forrest et al. 1994]."

Jan 1, 2018

By M. Saghaeian, R. Hejazi, A. Dehghani Ahmadabadi, M. Zare

"In the most iron ore beneficiation plants, reverse flotation is the best method for removing silicate gangues from final iron ore concentrate. Many previous studies show, if the major portion of impurities include quartz minerals, the flotation process is simple, but if iron silicates are dominant, reverse flotation is so complicated and mostly not very effective. In this study which was performed on the Sangan iron ore concentrate, the performance using of reverse flotation and magnetic flotation separator for elimination of silicate gangues from the magnetic iron concentrate was investigated. The operational parameters for reverse flotation are considered as: collector and frother types and dosages and also modifiers. But for magnetic flotation separator parameters were magnetic field intensity as well as overflow and underflow water rates. Results showed that reverse flotation has not a significant effect on the elimination of impurities. Because of the silicate gangues of Sangan concentrate including a mixture of quartz and iron silicates (amphibole, pyroxene and feldspar), so downgrading of the SiO2 content for the flotation concentrate was rather low and only average reduces of 20.60% were possible. But the findings of using magnetic separator was more satisfactory. Results of the weight recovery, iron grade and also SiO2 and S grades of final concentrate were better with magnetic flotation device. So at the best and optimum condition, we could reduce 51.01% of the total silicate (SiO2~ 2.19%) along with 74.66% of sulfur content (S~ 0.076%) and concentrate weight and Fe recoveries of 92.04% and 94.51% respectively, final Fe grade of 68.73%.INTRODUCTION Chemical/traditional flotation is one of the most effective methods for separating valuable particles from waste minerals, which is used in most mineral processing industries. In the iron ore processing industry, the major impurities present in iron ore concentrate include sulfur, silica and phosphorus (Bruckard et al, 2015), which are often carried out by reverse flotation methods for the removal of sulfide and oxide impurities (Donald, 1967: Araujo et al., 2005: Ma, 2012)"

Jan 1, 2018

By S. J. Dai

The cadmium and cyanide are main poisonous components in cyanide electroplating cadmium waste water of an electroplating plant in Shenyang. The content of cadmium is about 26 mg/L and the content of cyanide is about 11.782 mg/L in this waste water. The main form of cadmium and cyanide are ions which are Cd2+and CN?. Because the cadmium and cyanide exceeded the standard seriously, the waste water must be disposed before it discharges. The microbiological method of treating heavy metals in wastewater has many advantages. For example, it has a fast adsorption velocity, high processing efficiency, wide range of pH and temperature, few invest, low running cost, no the second pollution and so on. At the same time, the CN? could be degradated by some microbiology. The physical nature, the chemical nature of Bacillus mucilaginosus, the adsorbing condition and adsorbing regular of Bacillus mucilaginosus to cadmium in the wastewater are studied by using Bacillus mucilaginosus as adsorbent removing cadmium from electroplating wastewater. The experimental results show that the adsorbing rate of cadmium is over 92%, under the room temperature(about 25?), stiring revolution in adsorption being 800 r/min for 30 min, pH being 5 , the bacteria being cultured after 5d with the biomass of Bacillus mucilaginosus 40g/L (wet weight). The mechanism in biosorption process of Bacillus mucilaginosus to cadmium is analyzed and discussed by TEM , Zeta potential,and infrared spectroscopy analysis. The results showed, the chemical involving is main adsorbing form, while electrostatic attraction, ions exchange, hydrogen bonding and Van Der Waals force are concerned cooperatively. ?NH2 ?, ?C=O?, ?C=O?NH?CH2, ?CH3, ?OH are main adsorbing groups. At the same time, the floatablity of removing cyanide by Bacillus mucilaginosus is explored.

Jan 1, 2014

By Aline Tavares

This paper describes the investigative studies carried out at Vale´s Center of Mineral Development (CDM) for a nickel sulfide deposit aiming to develop an adequate flotation flowsheet. The CDM facilities comprises of very well equipped laboratories to develop hydrometallurgical, comminution, flotation, physical separation processes, besides chemical and mineralogical laboratories, that are required to accomplish pre-feasibility studies, new process routes developments and, eventually, brownfield projects. Close association of the flotation group with the geometallurgy and the mineralogy teams play a key role during greenfield project development. Most of the information required by process engineers responsible for the flowsheet development can be provided by the mineralogy team and its mineralogical laboratory at CDM. During the flowsheet development of this nickel sulfide deposit, two ore types were identified as the most abundant in the deposit, named biotite-chlorite hydrothermalite (HID) and magnetite hydrothermalite (MAG HID). Six samples were selected for the investigative studies based on this initial information. Nickel grade varied from 0.39% to 1.95%. The main nickel-bearing minerals were millerite and pentlandite whereas the main non-sulphide gangue minerals were quartz, plagioclase, biotite, chlorite, actinolite, and/or magnetite. Electron microprobe (EMP) identified the presence of nickel in solid solution in gangue minerals such as biotite, chlorite, and actinolite. Nickel deportment in silicates varied from 3% to almost 40%. Magnesium was distributed in biotite and chlorite, except in sample MAG HID, in which talc was responsible for almost 50% of the Mg content. Liberation studies indicated that the optimum feed grind size was around 150µm and that pyrite occurred highly associated to the nickel sulfides. The flotation tests were planned based on the information provided by the mineralogical data. Rougher flotation tests indicated that the optimum P80 of the primary grind was 212µm for the HID type and 150µm for the MAG HID. From the reagents tested, amyl xanthate proved to be the most efficient in the recovery of the sulfides. In the MAG HID sample talc was well depressed by dosing 600g/t of CMC. Nickel recoveries in the rougher stage were lower than 90% due to the nickel distributed in silicates. However, sulfur recovery was around 95%, indicating high recovery of the total sulfides. Open circuit and locked cycle tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of the regrind size in the nickel grade and recovery (P80 of 44µm and 20µm). Nickel recovery decreased from 70% to 65% when finer regrind size was tested. Although nickel recovery decreased by 5%, the finer regrind size lead to a higher Ni grade (from 11% to 23%Ni) and lower fluorine grade (from 1138ppm to 700ppm) in the concentrate. Keywords: nickel sulfide, flotation, mineralogical characterization, flowsheet development

Sep 1, 2012

By V. A. Chanturiya

The results of development of new collecting reagents selectively interacting with the metals of platinum group (MPG) are presented. A new approach to the concentration of the platinum minerals from the fine grade platinum containing products with the use of cloud point polymers for the first time proposed for this purpose is discussed. An original method for the investigation of complexing reagents with the platinum under flotation conditions developed by authors is described. The influence of the complexing reagents on the xanthate adsorption and on the electrochemical properties of the platinum arsenide surface (sperrylite) as well with the interaction mechanism between the reagent and metallic platinum were investigated by means of the modern physical and physicochemical methods of the solid and fluid phase studies. The results of tests of some complexing reagents with the rich copper-nickel ore in the cycle of nickel-pyrrhotite flotation are given. The data obtained makes it possible to mark the complexing reagent containing phosphine group as the most effective additional collector for MPG. Cloud point polymers containing thioamide, aminosulphide, and phosphine functional groups were examined. It is shown that all the reagents tested increase the platinum and palladium extraction to the nickel-pyrrhotite concentrate without quality loss. Platinum containing particles flocculate selectively.

Jan 1, 2014

By Hermann Wotruba, Lars Weitkämper

"Dry coal dressing was popular during the 1950.s and 60.s in many parts of the world. The devices mainly used were air jigs and air tables.The increase in ash and moisture content of run-of-mine coals due to the wide advanced mechanisation of mining mechanisation during and after this period led to that pneumatic devices being unable to treat run-of-mine coals with the desired efficiency. Since the 1960.s almost all new coal preparation plants have been based on wet processes that are highly efficient in terms of coal recovery and their ability to handle damp and sticky run-of-mine coals. (Frankland, 1995)However, water is becoming increasingly costly and the disposal of fine products, containing most of the water, is an environmental concern. There would be significant cost savings and a lower total energy consumption if coal could be cleaned dry. Efficient dry coal treatment would be an interesting solution in desert, arid or cold areas.In Germany one dry coal dressing plant is in operation. The process and the advantages and disadvantages are presented below.Further on new developments in the field of dry density separation of coal are reviewed and analysed. Test results of new dry coal separation methods e.g. new developed air jig and magnetic separator are reported."

Jan 1, 2003

By J. Drzymala

Ores and raw materials are subjected to mineral processing operations to increase the content of their useful components. Upgrading of these materials can proceed with different selectivity and therefore, there is a need to know and monitor the separation results of the process. The separation results can be evaluated using tables and graphs called upgrading curves. The course of lines in the upgrading curves is usually complex and depends on the graph type and process parameters. The Halbich grade vs. recovery plot is frequently used because is practical and it indicates several characteristic features of separation results. Separations by means of flotation of several different shale, dolomite and sandstone copper ores were performed along with determination of their mineral composition, copper content, liberation degree, and the maximum theoretical copper content in the first concentrate. These data, plotted as the Halbich upgrading curves, allowed to find other characteristic points such as practical maximum copper content in the first concentrate, maximum curvature coexisting with the liberation degree, maximum recovery of ore valuable components, and the slope the recovery-grade line at high recoveries as a measure of liberation. Correlations between theoretical and practical maximum copper contents in the first concentrate as well liberation degree and maximum curvature were also presented. They show that the ore type significantly influences the shape of the Halbich curve and its characteristic points.

Sep 1, 2012

By E. Barsky

Physical principles of two-phase flows with a polyfractional solid phase have not received a sufficient theoretical interpretation as yet. Two-phase flows in the separation mode with a counter-flow of particles are even more complicated. Only statistical methods give an insight into general regularities of such processes. These processes can be interpreted best by analogy with the statistical model of an ideal gas developed by L. Boltzmann, although here a number of difficulties arise. The notion of a statistical system for such flows is substantiated. A mathematical estimation of a statistical system is presented. New notions are introduced, namely, potential extraction of a system and lifting factor. A relationship having the physical meaning of entropy is derived for a two-phase flow in the separation modes. The connection of this new entropy with flow parameters, such as the number of particles, separation factor and chaotizing factor, is established. Properties of this entropy are analyzed, as well as the analogy and difference between this entropy and Boltzmann?s entropy. The notion is formulated and the definition of the chaotizing factor of a process is suggested. In the framework of a statistical approach to two-phase flows in the separation mode, the notion of flow mobility has been formulated. Principal regularities of mass transfer in zone/apparatus sys-tem are analyzed. Principal ideas of a cellular model of the process are formulated, and main relationships for its description are derived. Proceeding from the cellular model, a dependence describing the degree of fractional separation of a narrow size grade is found. The analysis of this dependence makes it possible to reveal the crucial role of the Froude criterion for gravitational separation processes. It is found empirically that this parameter is a basis for the affinization of separation curves (Barsky E, Barsky M, 2006; Barsky, 1980).

Jan 1, 2014

By F. K. Ikumapayi

An approach to environmental sustainability and improved process economy, in sulphide minerals production is recycling of process water in flotation of complex sulphide ores, although the chemistry of process water may be a critical issue to flotation efficiency. The influence of major components of calcium and sulphate ions in process water on xanthate collector adsorption and flotation response using pure chalcopyrite, galena and sphalerite minerals were investigated by Hallimond flotation, zeta-potential measurement, FTIR and XPS spectroscopy studies, while bench scale flotation tests were also carried out using complex sulphide ores. The impact of the species in flotation was comprehended using deionised water, tap water, process water and simulated water containing equivalent amount of calcium and sulphate species in process water. Hallimond flotation results showed a decrease of chalcopyrite and galena recovery in process water and also in the presence of calcium and sulphate ions in both deionised and process waters, whereas sphalerite does not respond to flotation. The adsorption of calcium and metal ions but not sulphate ions on the minerals is evidenced by zeta-potential data. FTIR and XPS studies revealed the presence of surface oxidized sulfoxy species and surface calcium carbonates on chalcopyrite in the presence of process water and water containing calcium ions, surface oxidized sulfoxy and carbonate species on galena in the presence of deionised water, process water and water containing calcium and sulphate ions, all at flotation pH 10.5, and these surface species influenced xanthate adsorption. The presence of surface oxidized sulfoxy and carbonate species at the sphalerite flotation pH 11.5 were seen in the presence of deionised water, process water and water containing calcium and sulphate ions, but the surface species does not influence xanthate adsorption. Bench scale flotation using two different complex sulphide ores showed that chalcopyrite, galena and sphalerite recoveries are better in process water than tap water. The studies showed that the process water can be recycled in flotation with no detrimental effect on grade and recovery of sulphide minerals. Keywords: sulphide minerals, flotation, zeta-potential, FTIR, XPS

Sep 1, 2012

By Xiaoxu Sun, Jianchao Yao, Jiancheng He, Shijie Lu, Hongxi Zhou

"With the trend of increasingly more mineral resources turning low-grade and refractory, more and more new ore bodies being developed worldwide are more finely grained, which drives the rapidly development and application of techniques related to tower mills (vertical spiral stirred mills). However, the lacking in fundamentals of fine grinding, as well as standard procedures for equipment selection and scale up, seriously restraint high efficient application of tower mills. Taking grinding media motion characteristic and grinding intensity as a breakthrough point, this paper studies mechanisms behind how critical parameters affect grinding efficiency of tower mill, including ratio of screw pitch and diameter, agitator rotation speed, grinding media size. Several sets of orthogonal test are conducted on the quartz ore using the grinding system of KLM-3 tower mill. All the tests are under the same character of feeding mineral and undergo the consistent sampling for at least 60min grinding time. The input power is measured by a torque measurement system and the grinding products are analyzed by the laser particle size analyzer. The test results show the influence of parameters on grinding efficiency. Among the three important parameters, the effect of grinding media diameter is the biggest, followed by the agitator tip speed, and finally the ratio of screw pitch and diameter. For the different particle size of grinding products, the best combination of grinding parameters is different, with the mineral size becoming finer, the ratio of screw pitch and diameter become smaller, the diameter of grinding media become smaller, while the agitator tip speed does not change too much. The conclusions of the study help us to improve the grinding efficiency of the tower mill, to assist in the selection and optimization of working parameters, establish new scale up method on the basis of grinding model and eventually provide theoretical basis of rational selections of structural and media physical parameters within tower mill."

Jan 1, 2018

By A. S. Chekmarev, T. Z. Lygina, K. G. Egorova, A. V. Skvorcov

"We have conducted analytical and technological evaluation of sepiolite containing clay. The possible areas of application of the sepiolite have been investigated and complex methods of enrichment of natural sepiolite have been identified. It was determined that for preserving the structure of minerals after processing the most effective method of the natural agglomerates disintegration was the soft abrasion of the clay fraction up to 0,5 mm. Disintegration of sepiolite clay along with using high energy-stressed effects on the matrix can deteriorate the rheological properties of clay suspensions and reduce the yield of drilling mud and sorption properties. To improve the quality of clay powders we used combined gravity-modifying method of wet enrichment. After the wet enrichment the yield of drilling mud increased up to 12.7 m3/t, with the addition of MgO up to 20,3 m3/t. It was noted that drilling muds contenting more than 50% of sepiolite are stable in mineralized (salt) waters. Based on the studied activated sepiolite rocks we obtained the effective heat-insulating materials with relatively low thermal conductivity – 0,165 W/m·K, average strength – 7,29 MPa and water absorption-49,0%.INTRODUCTION The modern development of the Russian economy requires the implementation of scientific and technical tasks. The solutions of it involves a radical reduction in energy, heat losses and material consumption of products, rational and efficient using of all types of resources, as well as the using of new types of mineral raw materials and materials based on it. An example of a new type of mineral raw materials for Russia is sepiolite containing rocks, due to unconventional conditions for their soils accumulation in the climate of the Far North. Sepiolite is a unique type of nonmetallic mineral. It is formed in soils, marine and saline basins, occurs in carbonate and carbonate-clay rocks in the form of lenses and lens – shaped layers, rarely nodules, loose powdery masses, shell-like concretions. Sepiolite may have a soft porous macroscopic appearance or less often the structure of the fibrous mass. Color of sepiolite is from white to cream with gray, green, pink and even crimson shade depending on the degree of pollution. Sepiolite can be in two forms - a-sepiolite (parasepiolite), which occurs in the form of large packets of crystalline fibers and ß-sepiolite, which occurs in the form of amorphous aggregates or small flat rounded particles. The sepiolite fibers have a length of from 0.2 to 2 Å, width from 100 to 300 Å, the thickness from 50 to 100 Å (Geological dictionary, 1973)."

Jan 1, 2018

By Garren Edwards, van der Westhuizen. Andre

"Due to the depletion of easily treated coarser ores, more mineralogically complex ores with smaller valuable mineral grain sizes are treated, the means to liberate these minerals lies in grinding finer (Partyka & Yan, 2007). Grinding to these fine sizes is energy intensive, and using standard ball mills are energy inefficient at these sizes (P80 < 75µm). Therefore, stirred mills are becoming increasingly prevalent in the mineral processing industry. In order to optimize these mills, the effects and mechanisms of the significant variables need to be understood. This paper investigates a laboratory scale vertical stirred mill (Deswik mill) in an ultra fine grinding application of a South African platinum ore. The operating variables that are considered are stirrer speed, media size, media filling, and slurry density. The resulting grinding efficiencies are considered in two ways. Firstly, a statistical model is fitted to identify the effect of the significant variables on grinding efficiency, and secondly, the grinding efficiencies are also considered in terms of a stress energy model to determine whether this can partly explain the grinding mechanism in this mill. A factorial design of experiments was used on three levels for each variable, such that only linear interactions, second order interactions and two variable interactions are included in the statistical model. The results show that tip speed, media size, percent solids and mill filling are all significant to the grind, at differing energy inputs in the grinding process. The interaction effects of these variables are also dependent on the energy inputs. The results also found that the Kwade stress energy model is applicable to this mill and can be very useful to find the most efficient operating conditions for this system. The most energy efficient operating conditions in terms of mill speed and media size were typically somewhat below the standard operating conditions and it is expected that this is most probably done in order to increase the grinding rate, but at the expense of sacrificing some grinding efficiency."

Jan 1, 2014

By Georges Delemontex, Nigel Grigg

"Pre-concentration of precious metal and base metal ore types is becoming more relevant with the discovery, development and operation of many lower grade deposits around the world. The fluctuations in metal prices and currencies expose many mines to risks especially dealing with low and variable ore grades. Pre-concentration, the process of concentrating the valuable metal into a smaller mass yield, effectively results in the introduction of higher feed grades to milling circuits. Gangue rejection, the removal of lower S.G. waste rock from the circuit, not only results in higher downstream grades but also potentially removes harder, non-valuable mineral, providing significant power savings within the circuit. The pre-concentration or ‘gangue rejection’ process offers a number of benefits when considering the treatment of marginal ore deposits, especially if it can be performed at a coarse crush size; these benefits include a reduction of the operating costs and the feed of more metal units to the mill. Gekko Systems has effectively utilized the Inline Pressure Jig (IPJ) to pre-concentrate the valuable metal, achieving high primary recoveries into a range of mass yields resulting in upgrade ratios between 2 and 10 times. This paper explores: the benefits of pre-concentrating ‘marginal’ ore deposits prior to the milling circuit; the selective rejection of ore types that may affect either the recovery or comminution process; and also looks into the potential to effectively reduce the ‘cut-off’ grade when considering the mine planning process. Case studies of projects using the IPJ to pre-concentrate and reject gangue are also included. Pre-concentration and gangue rejection provide the potential to develop marginal ore deposits, thus providing higher grades, less gangue and more metal at a lower operating cost to producers."

Jan 1, 2014

By Carina Ulsen

The existing construction and demolition (C and D) waste recycling technologies and standards have been essentially focused on the production and use of coarse recycled aggregates. Very few papers focus on the production of recycled sand, although some previous results show that fine aggregates fraction represents around 40 to 60% (in mass) of the Brazilian waste and it is usually used as road sub-base or disposed in landfills. The quality of the recycled aggregate is strictly related to the content of porous and low strength phases, mainly the patches of cement remaining on recycled aggregate surface. Some technologies have already been described in the literature, even though, to the moment none of these technologies has clearly succeeded in reaching the large market available. This paper presents a summary of the main properties of the sand produced from C and D waste by tertiary crushing at vertical shaft impact crusher (VSI). Additionally mineral processing technologies were applied on the attained product, such as gravity concentration by shaking table and spirals and removal of cement paste by attrition. The main properties of recycled sand are discussed and compared to the previous C and D waste, respectively: particle size distribution, particle shape, chemical composition, cement paste content and porosity. The results demonstrates that the crushing allowed producing a VSI-sand with low porosity and water absorption due to the increasing on the content of silicates from natural rock phases and increasing liberation between these phases and porous cement paste; the particles from the attained product presented also a better shape (sphericity and aspect ratio). The attrition tests assayed on VSI recycled fine aggregates accomplished a further selective disaggregation of cement paste and other porous materials - the porosity was reduced from 10% to 7%. The concentration by shaking table at narrow sieve fractions led to a product with low porosity and reduced content of cement paste, however, concentration on spirals did not succeed since separation was performed essentially by the size of the particles. The heavy product from shaking table represented almost 75% in weight and has less than 60% recovery of CaO+LOI, and expressive reduction on porosity. The aim of producing sand from construction and demolition waste through mineral processing unit operations changes the recycling approach and contributes for up cycling the recycled sand. The exhaustion of sand deposits on Brazilian large centers, the increasing price and the construction boom encourages the development of alternative materials as construction raw material. Keywords: recycled sand, construction and demolition waste, technological characterization

Sep 1, 2012

By L. Weitkämper

The big challenge at present and in the future is the economization of resources. This is applied for the whole industry but particularly in fields of mineral processing. The most important resources are energy and water. The shortage and price advance of energy is worldwide noticeable whereas the shortage of water is regionally limited at present. However due to the increasing world population, associated with a rising standard of living, water will become more and more important. Studies of the Unesco from 2001 indicate that the total water consumption raised seven times since the last 100 years at a growth of population of just three times. (UNESCO-Currier, 10/2001). This trend is going to be increased. While today more than 90 % of the humanity has access to clean water, in 2050 just about 50 % will be in the same situation. These figures indicate the importance of a gentle handling with the resource water. Further more the disposal of fine products, containing most of the water, is an environmental concern and in the future the mining and processing of raw materials will become important and necessary in desert, arid or permafrost areas. In these areas just efficient dry cleaning technologies will allow an economical beneficiation or better enable the processing at all. Most of the separation technologies with high throughput rates in mineral processing are based on wet processes. This applies especially for the separation of fines. Though there are some dry technologies available for the separation of coarse materials, like pneumatic gravity separation [air jigs and air tables], magnetic separation and not least sensor based sorters. Dry separation of fines is bounded mostly on cost intensive and low throughput technologies. The pneumatic separation undergoes at present a renaissance, mainly due to the development of the all air jig by the German supplier Allmineral. This newly developed sorting device yields good results in the separation of coarse to medium size material. All these facts and figures show the potential and motivation for developing an efficient dry separation device for fines. The following article delineates the development, performance and chance of a new dry separation technology for fines.

Jan 1, 2014