1210 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Likewise, both samples have comparable proportions of
coarse particles with size greater than 500μm. Ore-2 sam-
ple is however significantly finer with an average particle
size in the order of 85μm, compared to an average particle
size of 220μm for ore-1. Salient information gleaned from
the particle size distribution therefore suggests that both
ore material require de-sliming to remove ultrafine parti-
cles and prepare feed suitable for beneficiation. Equipment
type, operating conditions and circuit configuration would
then need to be tailored to account for the difference in the
average particle size for each ore.
Density Profile
The specific gravity of minerals is known to vary according
to their chemical composition (Mursky 1953). For instance,
monazite has a range of specific gravities between 4.6 and
5.4, xenotime has a range of specific gravities between 4.4
and 5.1.
A sub-sample from each ore type was washed through
a 20μm sieve to remove fines that would otherwise inter-
fere with the heavy liquid viscosity. The retained sand frac-
tions were sequentially separated at 2.85, 3.6 and 4.05 SG.
Density separations were conducted using a heavy liquid
float—sink method. Different heavy liquids were used
depending on the desired separation density, bromoform
liquid for SG 2.85 and thallium malonate formate (TMF)
solution for 3.6 SG and 4.05 SG.
The result of the density profile analysis for each ore
type is presented in Figure 2. It is noted that separations
for ore-2 was completed using a centrifuge due to its very
fine sizing. The term total heavy mineral (THM) refers to
the minerals which have a density greater than 2.85 and
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
10 100 1000
Particle size (microns)
Ore-1
Ore-2
Figure 1. Samples particle size distribution
Ore-1 Ore-2
92.5
0.39
0.40
6.66 7.45
-2.85sg +2.85-3.6 +3.6-4.05sg +4.05sg
93.8
1.75 1.32
3.17
6.25
-2.85sg +2.85-3.6 +3.6-4.05sg +4.05sg
Figure 2. Samples density profile
%mass
passing
Likewise, both samples have comparable proportions of
coarse particles with size greater than 500μm. Ore-2 sam-
ple is however significantly finer with an average particle
size in the order of 85μm, compared to an average particle
size of 220μm for ore-1. Salient information gleaned from
the particle size distribution therefore suggests that both
ore material require de-sliming to remove ultrafine parti-
cles and prepare feed suitable for beneficiation. Equipment
type, operating conditions and circuit configuration would
then need to be tailored to account for the difference in the
average particle size for each ore.
Density Profile
The specific gravity of minerals is known to vary according
to their chemical composition (Mursky 1953). For instance,
monazite has a range of specific gravities between 4.6 and
5.4, xenotime has a range of specific gravities between 4.4
and 5.1.
A sub-sample from each ore type was washed through
a 20μm sieve to remove fines that would otherwise inter-
fere with the heavy liquid viscosity. The retained sand frac-
tions were sequentially separated at 2.85, 3.6 and 4.05 SG.
Density separations were conducted using a heavy liquid
float—sink method. Different heavy liquids were used
depending on the desired separation density, bromoform
liquid for SG 2.85 and thallium malonate formate (TMF)
solution for 3.6 SG and 4.05 SG.
The result of the density profile analysis for each ore
type is presented in Figure 2. It is noted that separations
for ore-2 was completed using a centrifuge due to its very
fine sizing. The term total heavy mineral (THM) refers to
the minerals which have a density greater than 2.85 and
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
10 100 1000
Particle size (microns)
Ore-1
Ore-2
Figure 1. Samples particle size distribution
Ore-1 Ore-2
92.5
0.39
0.40
6.66 7.45
-2.85sg +2.85-3.6 +3.6-4.05sg +4.05sg
93.8
1.75 1.32
3.17
6.25
-2.85sg +2.85-3.6 +3.6-4.05sg +4.05sg
Figure 2. Samples density profile
%mass
passing