XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 1213
dried. The dried products were weighed, and a sub-sample
extracted from each using a riffle splitter for assay purposes.
For froth flotation evaluation, a series of small batch
performance tests were performed on freshly attrition sub-
samples to establish a suitable regime, define recovery, and
upgrade performance as well as provide preliminary flo-
tation kinetics information. The testing matrix aimed to
determine effectiveness of sodium silicate and starchy poly-
saccharide as depressants/regulators to reduce titania and
zirconia minerals reporting to flotation concentrate and
determine the effectiveness and dosage of carboxylic acid as
a collector for flotation of phosphorous rare earth minerals.
Upon establishment of suitable conditions either a batch
bulk test or series of locked-cycle tests were performed.
CASE STUDIES
The development of process flowsheets for each ore type is
discussed in the relevant case studies. The information pro-
vided is a brief overview of the detailed work that has been
carried out over recent years. Detailed stage by stage separa-
tion unit specification and performance are not reported.
However, the key aspects of each design in relation to the
characterization data, the product grade and operational
constraints are presented.
Ore-1 Sample
FPP
As identified during the characterization phase the ore con-
tained a high proportion of ultra fines particles and there-
fore a stage of de-sliming was included as part of the feed
preparation plant circuit development. In addition, barren
oversize with size 2 mm was removed. The natural good
liberation of the valuable minerals in the –2.0+0.045 mm
size range facilitated the high recovery (97%) of rare earth
minerals to the PCP feed relative to the run-of-mine ore.
PCP
Initial spiral concentration showed very high separation
efficiency whilst utilizing conventional gravity spiral mod-
els and typical loadings of 2.5 t/h per spiral start during the
initial stages and loadings of 1.5t /h per spiral start during
the final upgrade stages.
A five-stage circuit consisting of roughing, scavenging,
cleaning, recleaning and finishing was evaluated and shown
N Stop test work /
consider
alternatives
Y
Open Circuit Bulk Sample Processing
(equipment &conditions based on
closed circuit testwork)
Y
(Stage) Feed Sample
Closed Circuit
Separation Performance Testing
Product Analysis
(Assay, density profile)
Separation Performance Review
Was Acceptable
Performance
Achieved ?
N
Are there
opportunites to
improve
selectivity?
Figure 4. General flowsheet development methodology
dried. The dried products were weighed, and a sub-sample
extracted from each using a riffle splitter for assay purposes.
For froth flotation evaluation, a series of small batch
performance tests were performed on freshly attrition sub-
samples to establish a suitable regime, define recovery, and
upgrade performance as well as provide preliminary flo-
tation kinetics information. The testing matrix aimed to
determine effectiveness of sodium silicate and starchy poly-
saccharide as depressants/regulators to reduce titania and
zirconia minerals reporting to flotation concentrate and
determine the effectiveness and dosage of carboxylic acid as
a collector for flotation of phosphorous rare earth minerals.
Upon establishment of suitable conditions either a batch
bulk test or series of locked-cycle tests were performed.
CASE STUDIES
The development of process flowsheets for each ore type is
discussed in the relevant case studies. The information pro-
vided is a brief overview of the detailed work that has been
carried out over recent years. Detailed stage by stage separa-
tion unit specification and performance are not reported.
However, the key aspects of each design in relation to the
characterization data, the product grade and operational
constraints are presented.
Ore-1 Sample
FPP
As identified during the characterization phase the ore con-
tained a high proportion of ultra fines particles and there-
fore a stage of de-sliming was included as part of the feed
preparation plant circuit development. In addition, barren
oversize with size 2 mm was removed. The natural good
liberation of the valuable minerals in the –2.0+0.045 mm
size range facilitated the high recovery (97%) of rare earth
minerals to the PCP feed relative to the run-of-mine ore.
PCP
Initial spiral concentration showed very high separation
efficiency whilst utilizing conventional gravity spiral mod-
els and typical loadings of 2.5 t/h per spiral start during the
initial stages and loadings of 1.5t /h per spiral start during
the final upgrade stages.
A five-stage circuit consisting of roughing, scavenging,
cleaning, recleaning and finishing was evaluated and shown
N Stop test work /
consider
alternatives
Y
Open Circuit Bulk Sample Processing
(equipment &conditions based on
closed circuit testwork)
Y
(Stage) Feed Sample
Closed Circuit
Separation Performance Testing
Product Analysis
(Assay, density profile)
Separation Performance Review
Was Acceptable
Performance
Achieved ?
N
Are there
opportunites to
improve
selectivity?
Figure 4. General flowsheet development methodology