2642 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Sensor Based Sorting
The calcite and quartz grade of the fractions after screening
are presented in Table 2. There is a slight enrichment of cal-
cite towards the coarser fractions, C and F. Concerning the
mass distribution of the subsamples, only a 23.1% (C+F)
of the sample mass is suitable for SBS. The undersize frac-
tion, which is unsuitable for SBS, represents a 76.9% of
the original sample and its composition is almost identical
to the feed. The Queguay Formation is characterized by a
non-metamorphosed limestone exhibiting low mechanical
strength and a pronounced tendency for friable fragmenta-
tion upon minimal crushing, resulting in the generation of
a significant volume of fine particles. Table 2 also shows the
LOI values, which are one to two percent higher than the
expected values based on the calcite grade. This discrepancy
can be attributed to the presence of magnesium as dolomite
in relative low grade.
Figure 3 depicts the XRF sensor response for individual
rocks within fractions C and F. Utilizing these measured
values, a classification system based on low (L), medium
(M), and high (H) calcite content categories was established
for both fractions, resulting in the generation of six distinct
product streams. The thresholds defined to separate the cat-
egories were selected to obtained three distinct products,
in terms of calcite grade. The reliability of the XRF sensor
to sort Queguay material was tested in a separated work by
the authors (Tomey, Seiler, de Amores, &Sánchez, 2023).
The characteristics of the SBS products are presented
in Table 3. As expected, the CL and FL products presented
Figure 2. Two stages direct froth flotation procedure
Table 2. Mass distribution and calcite and quartz content of the feed sample and the
three subsamples.
Mass
Distribution
(%)
Calcite Grade
(%)
Quartz Grade
(%)LOI (%)
Coarse (C) 15.6 74.8 15.7 34.2
Fine (F) 7.5 75.4 14.6 34.5
Undersize 76.9 70.2 16.1 33.1
Feed (back calculated) 100 71,3 15,9 33.4
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Sensor Based Sorting
The calcite and quartz grade of the fractions after screening
are presented in Table 2. There is a slight enrichment of cal-
cite towards the coarser fractions, C and F. Concerning the
mass distribution of the subsamples, only a 23.1% (C+F)
of the sample mass is suitable for SBS. The undersize frac-
tion, which is unsuitable for SBS, represents a 76.9% of
the original sample and its composition is almost identical
to the feed. The Queguay Formation is characterized by a
non-metamorphosed limestone exhibiting low mechanical
strength and a pronounced tendency for friable fragmenta-
tion upon minimal crushing, resulting in the generation of
a significant volume of fine particles. Table 2 also shows the
LOI values, which are one to two percent higher than the
expected values based on the calcite grade. This discrepancy
can be attributed to the presence of magnesium as dolomite
in relative low grade.
Figure 3 depicts the XRF sensor response for individual
rocks within fractions C and F. Utilizing these measured
values, a classification system based on low (L), medium
(M), and high (H) calcite content categories was established
for both fractions, resulting in the generation of six distinct
product streams. The thresholds defined to separate the cat-
egories were selected to obtained three distinct products,
in terms of calcite grade. The reliability of the XRF sensor
to sort Queguay material was tested in a separated work by
the authors (Tomey, Seiler, de Amores, &Sánchez, 2023).
The characteristics of the SBS products are presented
in Table 3. As expected, the CL and FL products presented
Figure 2. Two stages direct froth flotation procedure
Table 2. Mass distribution and calcite and quartz content of the feed sample and the
three subsamples.
Mass
Distribution
(%)
Calcite Grade
(%)
Quartz Grade
(%)LOI (%)
Coarse (C) 15.6 74.8 15.7 34.2
Fine (F) 7.5 75.4 14.6 34.5
Undersize 76.9 70.2 16.1 33.1
Feed (back calculated) 100 71,3 15,9 33.4