XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 1553
quarter (~25 wt. %)of the spodumene minerals ranged
between 700–800 µm size range, whereas majority of the
other silicate minerals (~22 wt.%) ranged 1000–2000 µm.
The particle size distribution of spodumene and the other
silicate minerals is relatively similar (mainly –500 μm),
which comprised 46 wt.% and 49 wt.%, respectively.
Composition of Spodumene Mineral
The composition of spodumene grains presented in Figure 4
was determined by laser ablation spot analysis and the
result summarized in Table 7. The results have been auge-
mented with the elemental deportment data obtained via
QEMSCAN analsysis presented in Table 8. The composi-
tion of the spodumene did not exhibit a great deal of varia-
tion and in all cases comprised of lithium (Li), aluminium
(Al), and silicon (Si). Notably, Li in the ore is completely
mineralised with spodumene and is not found in any other
mineral. Based on the data from the laser ablation tests,
the theoretical composition of spodumene was found to be
3.73% Li, 30.18% Si, and 14.5% Al.
BENEFICIATION STRATEGIES
Lithium bearing minerals/ores beneficiation processes
depend on the physical or physico-chemical properties
to separate lithium minerals from the associated gangue
minerals. Typically, magnetic separation, gravity separa-
tion, and froth flotation are used to achieve the recovery
and upgrade of lithium minerals. It is worth noting that the
extent of beneficiation and final concentrate grade largely
depend on the downstream hydrometallurgical extraction
process used to leach and purify the concentrate.
In the present study, the ore mainly comprises silicate
gangue minerals, which account for more than 60% of the
ore by weight (Table 4). Therefore, any lithium mineral
beneficiation process must either target the separation of
lithium mineral (spodumene) from the other silicate min-
erals or rejection/removal of the other silicate minerals.
The removal of these minerals would significantly increase
lithium grade in the concentrate, thus making it suitable
for downstream processing and market analysis, when
required.
The coarse grain size and liberation characteristics of
the spodumene in the ore (see Section 3.2.4 and 3.2.3) sug-
gest that there is little/no need for further grinding prior
to employing various beneficiation techniques to recover
and upgrade spodumene. This is highly advantageous as
it reduces the overall capital cost of processing the ore.
Milling is known to take up to 60% operating and energy
costs in typical mineral processing plant (Abaka-Wood et
al, 2022b). To this end, the ore is an important candidate
Figure 3. The grain sizes of spodumene and other silicate minerals in the ore
quarter (~25 wt. %)of the spodumene minerals ranged
between 700–800 µm size range, whereas majority of the
other silicate minerals (~22 wt.%) ranged 1000–2000 µm.
The particle size distribution of spodumene and the other
silicate minerals is relatively similar (mainly –500 μm),
which comprised 46 wt.% and 49 wt.%, respectively.
Composition of Spodumene Mineral
The composition of spodumene grains presented in Figure 4
was determined by laser ablation spot analysis and the
result summarized in Table 7. The results have been auge-
mented with the elemental deportment data obtained via
QEMSCAN analsysis presented in Table 8. The composi-
tion of the spodumene did not exhibit a great deal of varia-
tion and in all cases comprised of lithium (Li), aluminium
(Al), and silicon (Si). Notably, Li in the ore is completely
mineralised with spodumene and is not found in any other
mineral. Based on the data from the laser ablation tests,
the theoretical composition of spodumene was found to be
3.73% Li, 30.18% Si, and 14.5% Al.
BENEFICIATION STRATEGIES
Lithium bearing minerals/ores beneficiation processes
depend on the physical or physico-chemical properties
to separate lithium minerals from the associated gangue
minerals. Typically, magnetic separation, gravity separa-
tion, and froth flotation are used to achieve the recovery
and upgrade of lithium minerals. It is worth noting that the
extent of beneficiation and final concentrate grade largely
depend on the downstream hydrometallurgical extraction
process used to leach and purify the concentrate.
In the present study, the ore mainly comprises silicate
gangue minerals, which account for more than 60% of the
ore by weight (Table 4). Therefore, any lithium mineral
beneficiation process must either target the separation of
lithium mineral (spodumene) from the other silicate min-
erals or rejection/removal of the other silicate minerals.
The removal of these minerals would significantly increase
lithium grade in the concentrate, thus making it suitable
for downstream processing and market analysis, when
required.
The coarse grain size and liberation characteristics of
the spodumene in the ore (see Section 3.2.4 and 3.2.3) sug-
gest that there is little/no need for further grinding prior
to employing various beneficiation techniques to recover
and upgrade spodumene. This is highly advantageous as
it reduces the overall capital cost of processing the ore.
Milling is known to take up to 60% operating and energy
costs in typical mineral processing plant (Abaka-Wood et
al, 2022b). To this end, the ore is an important candidate
Figure 3. The grain sizes of spodumene and other silicate minerals in the ore