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Ultra-Fine Centrifugal Concentration of Bastnaesite Ore

Journal Article · · Metals
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/met11101501· OSTI ID:1983124
 [1];  [2]
  1. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Tetra Tech, Inc., Golden, CO (United States)
  2. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)

Historically, the ability to effectively separate carbonate gangue from bastnaesite via flotation has frequently proven to be challenging without sacrificing significant rare earth oxide (REO) grade or recovery. However, in light of the fact that the rare earth bearing minerals often exhibit higher specific gravities than the carbonate gangue, the possibility exists that the use of gravity separation could be used to achieve such a selective separation. This however is complicated by the fact that, in cases such as this study when the liberation size is finer than 50 µm, most traditional gravity separation methods become increasingly challenging. The purposes of this study is to determine the applicability of gravity concentrators to beneficiate bastnaesite from deleterious calcite bearing flotation feed material. Via the use of a UF Falcon, it was possible to achieve rougher gravity REO recoveries approaching the upper 80% range while rejecting on the order of 30% of the total calcium. In terms of purely REO recovery, this represents a significant improvement over results obtained via a traditional Falcon in previously reported studies.

Research Organization:
Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States). Critical Materials Institute (CMI)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Office (AMMTO)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11358
OSTI ID:
1983124
Journal Information:
Metals, Journal Name: Metals Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 11; ISSN 2075-4701
Publisher:
MDPICopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (5)

The Knelson concentrator. metamorphosis from crude beginning to sophisticated world wide acceptance journal October 1992
A Molecular-Scale Approach to Rare-Earth Beneficiation: Thinking Small to Avoid Large Losses journal September 2020
Physical analysis and modeling of the Falcon concentrator for beneficiation of ultrafine particles journal June 2013
Gravity Separation: Old Technique/New Methods journal January 2003
Centrifugal Concentration of Rare Earth Minerals from Calcitic Gangue journal January 2015

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