Gravity separation of rare earth oxides from hematite and quartz mixtures
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Date
2018
Authors
Abaka Wood, G.B.
Owusu, C.
Addai Mensah, J.
Skinner, W.
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Conference paper
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UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference, 2018, pp.1-10
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5th UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference (1 Aug 2018 - 4 Aug 2018 : Tarkwa, Ghana)
Abstract
This investigation is one of numerous model minerals studies aimed at identifying suitable separation methods to upgraderare earth oxides (REO) from iron-oxide rich tailings, in which hematite and quartz are the main gangue minerals. Monazitehas been identified as one of the major rare earth elements (REE) bearing minerals found in tailings generated after theextraction of primary commodities such as copper, gold, and silver from most South Australian ores. In this investigation,the prospect of exploiting the differences in specific gravity (sg) to concentrate REO from hematite and quartz mixtures wasstudied using a Knelson concentrator (KC) and Wilfley shaking table. The influence of fluidization water flowrate and bowlrotation speed of the KC on the upgrade and recovery of REO was investigated. Furthermore, the influence of particle sizedistribution on the upgrade and recovery of REO using both the KC and shaking table was compared. Results from the studyindicates, the KC produced high REO recoveries (70 – 92%), with low enrichment ratios (1.07 – 1.36), whereas the shakingtable produced comparatively lower REO recoveries (30 – 85%) with relatively higher enrichment ratios (1.28 – 1.74). Theresults also showed hematite occupied the bulk of the gravity concentrates, due to its similar sg (4.5 – 5.3) with monazite,which explains the generally low REO upgrade at high recoveries. This study has shown that the shaking table is moreselective in upgrading REO although the KC produces higher REO recovery. The results also suggest that the similarity in sgbetween monazite and hematite is a major challenge associated with the use of gravity separation method for REO upgrade
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Copyright 2018 The Author(s)