1218 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Another feature of spiral troughs for beneficiating fine
minerals requires that greater attention is needed during
feed preparation to ensure feed sizing is maintained within
reasonable limits, especially regarding top size.
Alternative PCP Flowsheet Design Considerations
A five-stage circuit consisting of roughing, scavenging,
cleaning, recleaning feed preparation and recleaning was
evaluated and is shown diagrammatically in Figure 9. This
flowsheet arrangement achieved a final concentrate assay-
ing 90% THM and 0.85% CeO2 with an overall recovery
of in-SG (+2.85 SG) CeO2 of 93.8% which is consistent
with the performance of ore-1.
Key to the successful use of gravity spirals was the tight
control of the operating load /laminar flow to the spiral
trough and the inclusion of an intermediate feed prepara-
tion stage removing unwanted, interfering gangue ahead of
the final recleaner stage.
MSP
Like ore-1 HMC, the gravity concentrate produced from
the processing of ore-2 was subjected to further ben-
eficiation using both conventional MSP techniques and
flotation. As observed in the earlier section, the up-front
froth flotation achieved far superior results.
The conventional MSP process required the com-
bination of six stages of dry HTR separations and three
stages of dry RER separation to isolate the monazite and
xenotime into a medium grade raw concentrate with 6.2%
CeO2. Recovery was 92.3% relative to the MSP feed. Final
upgrade required additional stages of gravity separation by
wet shaking table and dry magnetic separation. Final grades
of 19.5% CeO2 with 5.21% Y2O3 was achieved at recovery
of 81.1% relative to the MSP feed.
The upfront flotation MSP process required attrition
and a single stage of mildly alkaline flotation. Final grades
of 21.3% CeO2 and 6.89% Y2O3 were achieved. REE
recovery relative to the MSP was calculated to be 97.0%.
A comparison of the REE-concentrate chemical com-
position is shown in Table 5.
CONCLUSIONS
Two distinct mineral sand samples containing rare-earth
minerals monazite and xenotime were evaluated for the
purpose of developing beneficiation flowsheets. It was
found that the concentration of rare-earth minerals in the
Figure 9. Ore-2 PCP circuit
Another feature of spiral troughs for beneficiating fine
minerals requires that greater attention is needed during
feed preparation to ensure feed sizing is maintained within
reasonable limits, especially regarding top size.
Alternative PCP Flowsheet Design Considerations
A five-stage circuit consisting of roughing, scavenging,
cleaning, recleaning feed preparation and recleaning was
evaluated and is shown diagrammatically in Figure 9. This
flowsheet arrangement achieved a final concentrate assay-
ing 90% THM and 0.85% CeO2 with an overall recovery
of in-SG (+2.85 SG) CeO2 of 93.8% which is consistent
with the performance of ore-1.
Key to the successful use of gravity spirals was the tight
control of the operating load /laminar flow to the spiral
trough and the inclusion of an intermediate feed prepara-
tion stage removing unwanted, interfering gangue ahead of
the final recleaner stage.
MSP
Like ore-1 HMC, the gravity concentrate produced from
the processing of ore-2 was subjected to further ben-
eficiation using both conventional MSP techniques and
flotation. As observed in the earlier section, the up-front
froth flotation achieved far superior results.
The conventional MSP process required the com-
bination of six stages of dry HTR separations and three
stages of dry RER separation to isolate the monazite and
xenotime into a medium grade raw concentrate with 6.2%
CeO2. Recovery was 92.3% relative to the MSP feed. Final
upgrade required additional stages of gravity separation by
wet shaking table and dry magnetic separation. Final grades
of 19.5% CeO2 with 5.21% Y2O3 was achieved at recovery
of 81.1% relative to the MSP feed.
The upfront flotation MSP process required attrition
and a single stage of mildly alkaline flotation. Final grades
of 21.3% CeO2 and 6.89% Y2O3 were achieved. REE
recovery relative to the MSP was calculated to be 97.0%.
A comparison of the REE-concentrate chemical com-
position is shown in Table 5.
CONCLUSIONS
Two distinct mineral sand samples containing rare-earth
minerals monazite and xenotime were evaluated for the
purpose of developing beneficiation flowsheets. It was
found that the concentration of rare-earth minerals in the
Figure 9. Ore-2 PCP circuit