Recovery of Rare Earth Oxides from Flotation Concentrates of Bastnaesite Ore by Ultra-Fine Centrifugal Concentration
Abstract
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 microns, most traditional gravity separation methods become increasingly challenging. The aim of this study is to determine the applicability of centrifugal concentrators to beneficiate ultra-fine (UF) bastnaesite and calcite bearing flotation concentrates. By using a UF Falcon, it was possible to achieve initial gravity REO recoveries exceeding 90% while rejecting on the order of 25% to 35% of the total calcium from an assortment of rougher and cleaner flotation concentrates. Additionally, when additional stages of cleaner UF Falcon gravity separation were operated in an open circuit configuration, it was possible, from an original fine feed of 35 microns containing 50.5% REO and 5.5% Ca, to upgrade up to approximately 59% REOmore »
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1821513
- Grant/Contract Number:
- Critical Materials Institute
- Resource Type:
- Published Article
- Journal Name:
- Metals
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Metals Journal Volume: 11 Journal Issue: 9; Journal ID: ISSN 2075-4701
- Publisher:
- MDPI AG
- Country of Publication:
- Switzerland
- Language:
- English
Citation Formats
Norgren, Alex, and Anderson, Corby. Recovery of Rare Earth Oxides from Flotation Concentrates of Bastnaesite Ore by Ultra-Fine Centrifugal Concentration. Switzerland: N. p., 2021.
Web. doi:10.3390/met11091498.
Norgren, Alex, & Anderson, Corby. Recovery of Rare Earth Oxides from Flotation Concentrates of Bastnaesite Ore by Ultra-Fine Centrifugal Concentration. Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11091498
Norgren, Alex, and Anderson, Corby. Tue .
"Recovery of Rare Earth Oxides from Flotation Concentrates of Bastnaesite Ore by Ultra-Fine Centrifugal Concentration". Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11091498.
@article{osti_1821513,
title = {Recovery of Rare Earth Oxides from Flotation Concentrates of Bastnaesite Ore by Ultra-Fine Centrifugal Concentration},
author = {Norgren, Alex and Anderson, Corby},
abstractNote = {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 microns, most traditional gravity separation methods become increasingly challenging. The aim of this study is to determine the applicability of centrifugal concentrators to beneficiate ultra-fine (UF) bastnaesite and calcite bearing flotation concentrates. By using a UF Falcon, it was possible to achieve initial gravity REO recoveries exceeding 90% while rejecting on the order of 25% to 35% of the total calcium from an assortment of rougher and cleaner flotation concentrates. Additionally, when additional stages of cleaner UF Falcon gravity separation were operated in an open circuit configuration, it was possible, from an original fine feed of 35 microns containing 50.5% REO and 5.5% Ca, to upgrade up to approximately 59% REO and 2.0% calcium. While not the goal of this study, these results also support previous limited data to suggest that UF Falcons are potentially capable of treating a wider range of materials than they were originally designed for, including feeds rich in heavy mineral content.},
doi = {10.3390/met11091498},
journal = {Metals},
number = 9,
volume = 11,
place = {Switzerland},
year = {Tue Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2021},
month = {Tue Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2021}
}
https://doi.org/10.3390/met11091498
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