2022 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
for Nb, and even more challenging to discern for Ta
(Figure 5). Several factors may contribute to this obser-
vation. Firstly, Sn is hosted in cassiterite, whereas Nb
is hosted in columbo-tantalite, and Ta is found in both
columbo-tantalite and microlite. Cassiterite has a density
of 7, while minerals from the columbo-tantalite series can
have variable densities ranging from 7 to 5, with micro-
lite having a density of 5. Secondly, cassiterite grain size is
slightly coarser than that of columbo-tantalite and micro-
lite. Thirdly, Sn grade is consistently higher than Nb and
Ta, making its detection easier and more precise. Lastly, the
analytical error associated with Ta is higher than for Nb
and Sn due to the more challenging detection of its XRF
emission peaks.
Rotation speed strongly influences the mass yield.
Therefore, when considering metallurgical responses, rota-
tion speed emerges as a clear influencing factor. Trials with
higher mass yields correspond to those with a rotation
speed above 100–150 G’s, and these are the trials where
both enrichment ratio and recovery begin to decrease. This
trend is evident in the case of Sn but is less apparent for Ta
(Figure 5).
CONCLUSION
The present study demonstrates that the Falcon SB could be
used to recover Sn, Nb and Ta from the Beauvoir granite at
the liberation mesh of the Li bearing micas. Indeed, in one
separation step, the enrichment ratio can easily surpass 10
with recovery about 65%. Metallurgical performances for
Nb and Ta are slightly lower and are mainly attributed to
the difference of metal bearing mineral and their liberation.
The local models show that enrichment ratio and recov-
ery are favoured by different mechanisms in the bowl. ER
can reach high values with optimized machine parameters
parameters whereas recovery is more affected by liberation
degree, gangue particle trapping and rely on a compromise
between the two parameters and needs more attention to
be maximized. The applied parameters have direct conse-
quences on the mass yield and on the metallurgical per-
formances of a trial. A critical mass yield, associated to a
critical rotation speed, has been identified. After this criti-
cal value the enrichment ratio continues to increase linearly
with the mass yield whereas a drop in recovery is observed.
Figure 5. Influence of mass recovery on enrichment ratio and recovery of Sn, Nb and Ta in the Falcon concentrate. Colour scale
indicates the rotation speed of each point
for Nb, and even more challenging to discern for Ta
(Figure 5). Several factors may contribute to this obser-
vation. Firstly, Sn is hosted in cassiterite, whereas Nb
is hosted in columbo-tantalite, and Ta is found in both
columbo-tantalite and microlite. Cassiterite has a density
of 7, while minerals from the columbo-tantalite series can
have variable densities ranging from 7 to 5, with micro-
lite having a density of 5. Secondly, cassiterite grain size is
slightly coarser than that of columbo-tantalite and micro-
lite. Thirdly, Sn grade is consistently higher than Nb and
Ta, making its detection easier and more precise. Lastly, the
analytical error associated with Ta is higher than for Nb
and Sn due to the more challenging detection of its XRF
emission peaks.
Rotation speed strongly influences the mass yield.
Therefore, when considering metallurgical responses, rota-
tion speed emerges as a clear influencing factor. Trials with
higher mass yields correspond to those with a rotation
speed above 100–150 G’s, and these are the trials where
both enrichment ratio and recovery begin to decrease. This
trend is evident in the case of Sn but is less apparent for Ta
(Figure 5).
CONCLUSION
The present study demonstrates that the Falcon SB could be
used to recover Sn, Nb and Ta from the Beauvoir granite at
the liberation mesh of the Li bearing micas. Indeed, in one
separation step, the enrichment ratio can easily surpass 10
with recovery about 65%. Metallurgical performances for
Nb and Ta are slightly lower and are mainly attributed to
the difference of metal bearing mineral and their liberation.
The local models show that enrichment ratio and recov-
ery are favoured by different mechanisms in the bowl. ER
can reach high values with optimized machine parameters
parameters whereas recovery is more affected by liberation
degree, gangue particle trapping and rely on a compromise
between the two parameters and needs more attention to
be maximized. The applied parameters have direct conse-
quences on the mass yield and on the metallurgical per-
formances of a trial. A critical mass yield, associated to a
critical rotation speed, has been identified. After this criti-
cal value the enrichment ratio continues to increase linearly
with the mass yield whereas a drop in recovery is observed.
Figure 5. Influence of mass recovery on enrichment ratio and recovery of Sn, Nb and Ta in the Falcon concentrate. Colour scale
indicates the rotation speed of each point