XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 1965
suspension dry preselector machine (LCG-0407). The wet
magnetic separation equipment used in the stage grinding
and stage magnetic separation tests were magnetic separa-
tion tubes, model XCGQS-50. The sample for the wet pre
concentration tests was iron separation tailings, and the
equipment used was the strong magnetic machine, model
XCSQ-50×70.
Flotation Tests
The flotation tests were conducted using an XFG series
flotation machine (Jilin Prospecting Machinery Factory,
China) equipped with plexiglass flotation cells of various
volumes to accommodate different flotation operations.
Copper or phosphorus flotation tests were conducted using
iron tailings with a fineness of –0.074 mm accounting for
40% as the flotation feed. The flotation feed was mixed
and then divided into 1 kg portions. Each time, 1 kg of
flotation feed was transferred to a 3-liter flotation cell for
roughing, and the pulp concentration was adjusted to 27%.
Multiple flotation cells with different volumes were used
for cleaning and scavenging. The impeller speed was set to
1750 rpm before reagent addition and flotation. After the
flotation process, the products were collected, dried, and
weighed. Finally, the recovery rate was calculated based on
the dry weights and grades of the products.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Ore Properties and Principle Processes
Research on the process mineralogy of ores mainly involves
studying mineral composition and relative content, exam-
ining the phase composition of valuable components, and
investigating the embedding characteristics of main miner-
als. The mineralogical composition of the sample, as deter-
mined by QEMSCAM, is presented in Table 2, and the
phase analysis results of iron, phosphorus and titanium
minerals are presented in Table 3.
The process mineralogy of the ore samples indicates
that valuable components such as iron, phosphorus, and
copper can be comprehensively recovered. As shown in
Table 3, titanium mainly exists in the form of sphene and
silicate, offering no comprehensive recovery value. The iron
in the ore predominantly exists in the form of magnetic
iron, constituting 52.90% of the total iron. Phosphorus
exists primarily in the form of apatite, representing over
99% of the total phosphorus. Copper exists primarily in
the form of copper sulfide, mostly chalcopyrite.
The embedded particle size of iron minerals and apa-
tite in the ore was systematically measured and the results
are shown in Table 4. The results found that the embedded
particle size of iron minerals and apatite in the ore was rela-
tively coarse. These minerals are predominantly distributed
in the +0.074 mm particle size fraction, with distribution
rates of 81.07% and 84.26%, respectively. In addition, the
particle size of chalcopyrite is concentrated in the range of
0.01 mm to 0.20 mm. The photos in Figure 1 show that the
mineral particles of magnetite and apatite are coarser, while
the particle size of chalcopyrite is slightly finer.
Table 2. QEMSCAM quantitative analysis showing the
mineralogical composition (mass fraction, %)
Mineral Content, wt% Mineral
Content,
wt%
Magnetite 10.17 Amphibole 32.56
Hematite 0.34 Chlorite 10.49
Ilmenite 0.36 Pyroxene 9.37
Rutile 0.04 Feldspar 8.54
Sphene 2.31 Quartz 5.48
Chalcopyrite 0.12 Epidote 4.33
Sphalerite 0.04 Serpentine 3.44
Pyrite 0.24 Muscovite 1.5
Apatite 5.04 Calcite 1.16
Fluorite 4.28 others 0.19
Table 3. Iron, phosphorus and titanium phase analysis result of ore samples
Composition Phase Mass Fraction,% Distribution,%
Fe Magnetic iron* 7.58 52.9
Iron sulfide 0.11 0.77
Ilmenite 0.21 1.47
Iron silicate 6.43 14.33
P2O5 Phosphorite 2.084 99.24
others 0.016 0.76
TiO
2 Magnetic iron 0.055 3.72
Ilmenite 0.22 14.86
Sphene and silicate 1.167 78.85
others 0.038 2.57
suspension dry preselector machine (LCG-0407). The wet
magnetic separation equipment used in the stage grinding
and stage magnetic separation tests were magnetic separa-
tion tubes, model XCGQS-50. The sample for the wet pre
concentration tests was iron separation tailings, and the
equipment used was the strong magnetic machine, model
XCSQ-50×70.
Flotation Tests
The flotation tests were conducted using an XFG series
flotation machine (Jilin Prospecting Machinery Factory,
China) equipped with plexiglass flotation cells of various
volumes to accommodate different flotation operations.
Copper or phosphorus flotation tests were conducted using
iron tailings with a fineness of –0.074 mm accounting for
40% as the flotation feed. The flotation feed was mixed
and then divided into 1 kg portions. Each time, 1 kg of
flotation feed was transferred to a 3-liter flotation cell for
roughing, and the pulp concentration was adjusted to 27%.
Multiple flotation cells with different volumes were used
for cleaning and scavenging. The impeller speed was set to
1750 rpm before reagent addition and flotation. After the
flotation process, the products were collected, dried, and
weighed. Finally, the recovery rate was calculated based on
the dry weights and grades of the products.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Ore Properties and Principle Processes
Research on the process mineralogy of ores mainly involves
studying mineral composition and relative content, exam-
ining the phase composition of valuable components, and
investigating the embedding characteristics of main miner-
als. The mineralogical composition of the sample, as deter-
mined by QEMSCAM, is presented in Table 2, and the
phase analysis results of iron, phosphorus and titanium
minerals are presented in Table 3.
The process mineralogy of the ore samples indicates
that valuable components such as iron, phosphorus, and
copper can be comprehensively recovered. As shown in
Table 3, titanium mainly exists in the form of sphene and
silicate, offering no comprehensive recovery value. The iron
in the ore predominantly exists in the form of magnetic
iron, constituting 52.90% of the total iron. Phosphorus
exists primarily in the form of apatite, representing over
99% of the total phosphorus. Copper exists primarily in
the form of copper sulfide, mostly chalcopyrite.
The embedded particle size of iron minerals and apa-
tite in the ore was systematically measured and the results
are shown in Table 4. The results found that the embedded
particle size of iron minerals and apatite in the ore was rela-
tively coarse. These minerals are predominantly distributed
in the +0.074 mm particle size fraction, with distribution
rates of 81.07% and 84.26%, respectively. In addition, the
particle size of chalcopyrite is concentrated in the range of
0.01 mm to 0.20 mm. The photos in Figure 1 show that the
mineral particles of magnetite and apatite are coarser, while
the particle size of chalcopyrite is slightly finer.
Table 2. QEMSCAM quantitative analysis showing the
mineralogical composition (mass fraction, %)
Mineral Content, wt% Mineral
Content,
wt%
Magnetite 10.17 Amphibole 32.56
Hematite 0.34 Chlorite 10.49
Ilmenite 0.36 Pyroxene 9.37
Rutile 0.04 Feldspar 8.54
Sphene 2.31 Quartz 5.48
Chalcopyrite 0.12 Epidote 4.33
Sphalerite 0.04 Serpentine 3.44
Pyrite 0.24 Muscovite 1.5
Apatite 5.04 Calcite 1.16
Fluorite 4.28 others 0.19
Table 3. Iron, phosphorus and titanium phase analysis result of ore samples
Composition Phase Mass Fraction,% Distribution,%
Fe Magnetic iron* 7.58 52.9
Iron sulfide 0.11 0.77
Ilmenite 0.21 1.47
Iron silicate 6.43 14.33
P2O5 Phosphorite 2.084 99.24
others 0.016 0.76
TiO
2 Magnetic iron 0.055 3.72
Ilmenite 0.22 14.86
Sphene and silicate 1.167 78.85
others 0.038 2.57