TITLE:
Flotation-Calcination-Magnetic Separation Hybrid Process for Concentration of Rare Earth Minerals Contained in a Carbonatite Ore
AUTHORS:
Tesfaye Negeri
KEYWORDS:
Flotation, Calcination of Rare Earth Flotation Concentrate, Magnetic Separation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.9 No.3,
May
27,
2021
ABSTRACT: A hybrid process consisting of flotation and magnetic separation has been developed to concentrate multi-phase rare earth minerals associated with a carbonatite ore that contains a significant amount of niobium. The deposit is known to contain at least 15 different rare earth minerals identified as silicocarbonatite, magnesiocarbonatite, ferrocarbonatites, calciocarbonatite, REE/Nb ferrocarbonatite, phosphates and niobates. Although no collector exists to float all the different rare earth minerals, the hydroxamic acid-based collectors have shown adequate efficiency in floating most of these minerals. 92% recovery of total rare earth oxide (TREO) and niobium in 45% mass was possible at d80 of