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Date submitted2023-12-15
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Date accepted2024-06-13
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Date published2025-02-25
Development of equipment and improvement of technology for inertial thickening of backfill hydraulic mixtures at the final stages of transportation
The results of the study of the functioning of the developed thickening equipment as part of the stowing complex for the formation of a flow of high-concentration hydromixture are presented. To explain the operation of the hydrotransport system of the stowing complex, equipped with a thickener of the developed design, its basic diagram is presented. A mathematical model has been created that describes the mechanism of inertial sedimentation of a solid component of a hydraulic mixture in a working chamber equipped with hydrodynamic profiles. Interaction with the profile leads to flow stratification due to a change in the trajectory of movement and a decrease in speed. The interval of rational velocity of primary pulp entering the input of the working chamber of the inertial thickener is substantiated. The synthesis of solutions of the thickening process model is performed in the COMSOL Multiphysics and Ansys Fluent programs. This made it possible to eliminate physical contradictions in the operation of the equipment and justify the overall dimensions of its main elements, ensuring the implementation of the mechanism of inertial sedimentation of the slurry. It was found that the concentration of the thickened flow at the outlet branch pipe of the thickener working chamber is determined by the level of the primary hydraulic fluid velocity, the characteristic length of the section of interaction with the deflecting profile, and the ratio of the flow and attack angles. A nomogram of the dynamics of the change in the hydraulic fluid concentration in the section of the outlet branch pipe depending on the ratios of the overall dimensions of the deflecting profile of the working chamber was compiled. The results of the study allowed formulating recommendations for selecting the dimensions of the thickener's deflecting hydrodynamic profile to form a flow of hydraulic mixture with a concentration of about 50 % by weight. The developed equipment can be used in a stowage complex and will increase the range of supply of the stowage mixture. This is due to the fact that a flow of primary slurry with a low concentration, due to lower pressure losses, can be moved in a pipeline system over a greater distance than a flow with a high filler content. The use of a thickener at the final stage of transportation is intended to increase the concentration of the hydraulic mixture immediately before production.
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Date submitted2023-11-02
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Date accepted2024-09-24
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Date published2025-02-12
Mercury contamination of sediments at Indonesia Ciujung watershed: contribution of artisanal small-scale gold mining
Artisanal small-scale gold mining is the largest artificial source of mercury pollution and has been a very common problem recently. This study examined the contribution of Hg release due to artisanal small-scale gold mining in contaminating the sediment of the watershed in Indonesia. Different from other methods, we measured Hg pollution using the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. This report is the first time analytical reports in Indonesia since most papers focus primarily on only detecting heavy metals in river water and sediments, neglecting deep research on Hg pollution and resources. The findings of this study indicate that artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities, located in the upstream areas of the tributaries that act as point sources, are the primary source of mercury in the sediment of the Ciujung watershed. The isotopes δ13C and δ15N successfully trace the Hg-contaminated sediment in the Ciujung watershed derived from the Cisimeut and Ciberang Rivers based on soil organic matter. The biological effect showed the Hg concentration in most of the sampling sites exceeded the Effects-range medium and Probable effect limit values. The Risk quotient values of Hg indicated the Hg pollution had a possibility effect on the benthic organism. Several limitations have also been added in this study and needs for further investigation.
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Date submitted2024-05-03
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Date accepted2024-09-05
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Date published2024-11-12
Platinum group elements as geochemical indicators in the study of oil polygenesis
This study examines elements of the platinum group (PGE), primarily platinum and palladium, as geochemical indicators in the investigation of oil polygenesis. It has been found that, like other trace elements such as nickel, vanadium, and cobalt, platinum group elements and gold can occur in oil fields at both background levels and in elevated or even anomalously high concentrations. The objective of this research is to analyze PGE and trace elements as geochemical markers to identify the geological factors, including endogenous processes, responsible for these unusually high concentrations in oil. A comprehensive review of the literature on this subject was conducted, along with new data on the presence of precious metals in oils from Russia and globally. The study explores the geological mechanisms behind elevated PGE concentrations in oils, utilizing atomic absorption spectroscopy with atomization in the HGA-500 graphite furnace to measure PGE content. Previously, the tellurium co-deposition method (ISO 10478:1994) was used to isolate noble metals from associated elements. Possible geological origins of abnormally high concentrations of platinum metals in oils have been identified. These include endogenous factors such as the spatial proximity of oil fields to ultrabasic rock massifs, the effects of contact-metasomatic processes, and influences from mantle dynamics. Moreover, data concerning mantle elements can serve as indicators of the depth origins of certain hydrocarbon fluids, thus contributing to the study of oil polygenesis.
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Date submitted2024-04-12
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Date accepted2024-09-05
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Date published2024-11-12
Promising reagents for the extraction of strategic metals from difficult-to-enrich mineral raw materials
The need of the mining and processing industry for new types of directional reagents is due to the deterioration of the material composition of the processed ores. Low Au content (less than 0.5-1.0 g/t), finely dispersed Au inclusions (0.1-10.0 microns) in the ore, similar properties of the separated minerals have an extremely negative effect on flotation performance when using traditional reagents, which leads to significant losses of valuable metal with enrichment tailings. Expanding the range of domestic flotation reagents based on the latest achievements of fundamental research and their targeted application at mining and processing companies will compensate for the negative impact of the mineral composition of raw materials and ensure maximum extraction of strategic metals from difficult-to-enrich ores. The use of modern research methods (scanning electron and laser microscopy, UV spectrophotometry, XRF and chemical analysis) made it possible to visualize the adsorption layer of new reagents-collectors of a number of dithiocarbamates with different structures of a hydrocarbon radical and an organic modifier on the surface of gold-containing sulfides. The amount of adsorbed reagents on the surface of minerals has been experimentally determined. The specific features of the fixation of reagents on minerals of various compositions led to optimal correlations of their consumption in the flotation process. Scientifically based reagent regimes ensured an increase in the gold content in the concentrate and a decrease in the loss of gold with tailings by 5-6 % during flotation enrichment of the refractory ore of the Malinovskoe deposit.
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Date submitted2023-03-01
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Date accepted2024-06-03
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Date published2025-02-25
Lamprophyres of the Peshchernoe gold deposit, their geological position, material composition, and metasomatic alterations (Northern Urals)
The article presents the first data on biotite-hornblende lamprophyres discovered at the Peshchernoe gold deposit. We consider the geological position of lamprophyre dikes in the deposit structure and the relationship of these rocks with tectonically weakened and mineralized zones. The data on the structural position of mineralized zones, faults, dike bodies, metasomatic halos, and host volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks confirm the tectonic nature of the Peshchernoe deposit alteration system. Lamprophyre dikes are pre-ore, as evidenced by the superimposed metasomatic mineral associations. We assume that dikes of andesitic rocks, lamprophyres, and subsequently hydrothermal fluids, including ore-bearing ones, were intruded along the fault zone of northeastern strike at different geological times. The description of mineralogical and chemical transformations of lamprophyres, which occurred as a result of alteration, is given. Two stages of metasomatism are distinguished: carbon dioxide (beresitization-listvenitization) and subsequent alkaline (sodic metasomatism). During carbon dioxide metasomatism, dark-coloured minerals are replaced by chlorite, albitization and sericitization of plagioclase occur, and ferruginous dolomite is formed under the influence of a significant supply of CO2. Alkaline (sodic) metasomatism is superimposed on the mineral metasomatic paragenesis of the first stage. We consider metasomatic zoning during sodic metasomatism, manifested in one of the spessartite dikes. Chlorite and relics of magmatic dark-coloured minerals are replaced by magnesite, the supply of Na leads to the appearance of newly formed albite, and the supply of S leads to the formation of pyrite, which concentrates iron from other minerals. As a result of the sodic metasomatism, iron content in carbonates decreases in the direction from the outer metasomatic zone to the inner one. We conclude that it was the alkaline-sulphide sodium solutions that performed the ore-bearing function, and beresitization and listvenitization prepared a favourable environment for ore deposition.
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Date submitted2024-03-30
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Date accepted2024-06-03
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Date published2024-07-04
Preparation and use of complex titanium-containing coagulant from quartz-leucoxene concentrate
- Authors:
- Evgenii N. Kuzin
The search for the new high-efficiency reagents for wastewater treatment is a challenging and urgent task. Titanium-containing coagulants represent a new trend in water treatment and have a much higher efficiency that the traditional aluminium and iron-containing coagulants. The high cost of reagents significantly hinders their implementation. Complex titanium-containing reagents are coagulants prepared by modifying the traditional coagulants by adding 2.5-10.0 wt.% titanium compounds. In this work, titanium tetrachloride prepared from quartz-leucoxene concentrate was prehydrolyzed with subsequent double decomposition with sulfuric acid. The resulting mixture of hydrochloric and sulfuric acids was neutralized with aluminium hydroxide/oxide to form a self-hardening mixture (chemical dehydration). The sample of a complex sulfate-chloride titanium-containing coagulant was a mixture of AlCl3·6H2O – 5-20 wt.%, Al2(SO4)3·18H2O – 70-90 wt.% and TiOSO4 – 2.5-10.0 wt.%. It was proved that by changing the ratio of aluminium oxide/hydroxide and titanium tetrachloride at the stage of prehydrolysis and double decomposition, it is possible to obtain samples of a complex coagulant with different contents of the modifying additive of titanium compounds. An assessment of the coagulation properties of the complex reagent demonstrated its higher efficiency in cold water compared to aluminium sulfate. Studies on the use of the complex titanium-containing coagulant in the process of wastewater treatment from phosphate anions and suspended matter demonstrated its higher efficiency as compared to that of traditional reagents. The advantages of the prepared reagent are a reduction in the effective dose of the reagent, minimization of residual concentrations of pollutants in purified water, intensification of the processes of sedimentation and filtration of coagulation sludge. Purified water can be reused in the recycling water supply system. The use of quartz-leucoxene concentrate and titanium tetrachloride obtained from it as the source material would not only minimize the cost of the resulting complex coagulant, but also take a step towards the implementation of the Zero Waste concept.
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Date submitted2023-07-07
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Date accepted2023-09-20
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Date published2024-02-29
Isotherm and kinetic adsorption of rice husk particles as a model adsorbent for solving issues in the sustainable gold mining environment from mercury leaching
One of the techniques used in extracting gold in small-scale gold mining is mercury amalgamation. However, the use of mercury presents significant health and environmental hazards, as well as suboptimal efficiency in gold extraction. This study explores the possibility of the use of rice husk as a prototype adsorbent for mercury removal from its leaching in mining environments. To support the analysis, the rice husk adsorbent was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectrophotometers and Brunauer − Emmett − Teller analysis. To investigate the removal of Hg from aqueous solutions, batch adsorption experiments were conducted, and the efficiency was optimized under various parameters such as contact time, rice husk dosage, and initial concentration of mercury. Kinetic and isotherm investigations were also carried out to gain a better understanding of the adsorption properties. The kinetic adsorption was analyzed using the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order. Furthermore, the isotherm adsorption was analyzed using ten adsorption isotherm models (i.e., Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin – Radushkevich, Flory – Huggins, Fowler – Guggenheim, Hill – de Boer, Jovanovic, Harkin – Jura, and Halsey). The amount of mercury absorption increased with increasing contact time, adsorbent mass, and initial concentration of mercury. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model is the best model that can be applied to describe the adsorption process. Analysis of the adsorption results obtained shows that the adsorption pattern is explained through the formation of a monolayer without any lateral interaction between the adsorbate and adsorbent. In addition, the formation of multilayers due to inhomogeneous pore distribution also occurs which causes a pore filling mechanism. We found that the isotherm phenomena are near the Jovanovic models with the maximum adsorption capacity) of rice husk found to be 107.299 mg/g. As a result, rice husk could be a promising option for wastewater treatment due to its fast and efficient removal capacity, as well as its affordability and eco-friendliness. The predicted thermodynamic studies using the Flory – Huggins isotherm model show that the adsorption process is endothermic, spontaneous, and physisorption. The impact shows that the utilization of rice husk can be used and fit for the current issues in the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
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Date submitted2021-04-15
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Date accepted2022-09-06
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Date published2023-10-27
Gold-rare metal and associated mineralization in the western part of Bolshevik Island, Severnaya Zemlya archipelago
The presented studies are aimed to determine the formation patterns of the gold-rare metal mineralization within one of the most inaccessible Arctic islands of the Russian Federation, Bolshevik Island of the Severnaya Zemlya archipela-go. The relevance of the work is determined by the high probability of discovering a significant in terms of metal reserves deposit, which is proved by many researchers on the example of known large deposits to be a typical feature of sites with gold-rare metal formation. Obviously, only the possibility of discovering and subsequent development of a deposit of a highly liquid type of mineral, gold, can ensure the profitability of mining production on Severnaya Zemlya. It is established that the main geological, mineralogical, and geochemical features of the gold-rare metal mineralization in the Kropotkinsko-Nikitinskaya metallogenic zone of Bolshevik Island correspond to that of similar ore sites in Russia and the world. The occurrences of other formation types revealed in this metallogenic zone suggest a certain zoning in their distribution: mineralization is located in the apical parts of granitoids and in the nearest halo of hornfelses. At a distance, with an exit from the hornfelsed zone, there are occurrences of a cassiterite-sulphide formation with elevated gold and silver content at the top of the ore column, together with an increased amount of polymetallic ores. Occurrences of gold-quartz and gold-sulphide-quartz formations are localized in fault zones, as a rule, farther from granitoids. The total vertical range of gold mineralization exceeds 300 m. The assignment of all types of mineralization in the Kropotkinsko-Nikitinskaya metallogenic zone of Bolshevik Island to a single hydrothermal process is emphasized by the similar isotope composition of lead galena from heterogeneous occurrences, which determines the age of all mineralization at 200-300 Ma.
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Date submitted2022-05-17
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Date accepted2023-04-03
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Date published2024-02-29
Improvement of concentrate quality in flotation of low-rank coal
- Authors:
- Sergei A. Kondratev
- Tatyana A. Khamzina
Percentage of high-rank coal with low content of ash, moisture, and sulfur in total coal production output is low. Most of the produced coal has a low quality (lignite, bituminous coal: long-flame and fiery). Under increasing requirements for ecological cleanness of coal, the efficient use of coal products is only possible after improvement of their processing properties. The authors discuss the enhancement of flotation efficiency of low-rank coal using the mechanism of physisorption of a collecting agent in particle – bubble attachment. It is explained why the yield of concentrate with low ash content increases as a result of combination of collectors having different physical properties. It is shown that the surface activity of a heteropolar agent relative to the gas – liquid interface and the adsorption density of the agent govern its collecting properties. Based on the recovery – surface activity relationship, the correlation is found between the collecting activity of a chemical compound and the structure of its molecules. The combination of the collectors with different surface activity enables adjusting collectability and selectivity of the blend. The physisorption mechanism of collectors can be a framework for developing recommendations on modification of concentrate yield and ash content, and on selection of optimized ratios of surface activities of miscible collectors relative to the gas – liquid interface.
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Date submitted2022-05-11
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Date accepted2023-02-20
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Date published2023-08-28
Application of the support vector machine for processing the results of tin ores enrichment by the centrifugal concentration method
The relevance of the research is due to the acquisition of new knowledge about the features of the applicability of the support vector machine, related to machine learning tools, for solving problems of mathematical modeling of mining and processing equipment. The purpose of the research is a statistical analysis of the results of semi-industrial tests of the Knelson CVD technology on tin raw materials using the support vector machine method and the development of mathematical models suitable for further optimization of the technological parameters of the equipment. The objects of research were the products obtained as a result of the operation of hydro-cyclones, as well as the technological parameters of the operation of centrifugal concentrators. The work uses classical methods of mathematical statistics, the least squares method for constructing a linear regression model, the support vector machine implemented on the basis of the Scikit-learn library, as well as the method of verifying the resulting models based on the ShuffleSplit library. A general description of the process of testing the Knelson concentrator with continuous controlled unloading in relation to the enrichment of tin ores is presented. The results obtained were processed using the support vector machine. Regression models are obtained in the form of polynomials of the second degree and in the form of radial basis functions. A significant non-linearity is shown in the dependence between the content of the valuable component in the tailings and the values of the technological parameters of the apparatus.
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Date submitted2022-10-10
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Date accepted2023-01-19
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Date published2023-12-25
Assessment of the possibility of using leucoxene-quartz concentrate as raw material for production of aluminium and magnesium titanates
Leucoxene-quartz concentrate is a large-tonnage by-product of development of the Timan oil-titanium field (oil-saturated sandstones) which is not commercially used at present. High content of titanium compounds (to 50 % by weight) and lack of industrial, cost-effective, and safe technologies for its processing determine a high relevance of the work. Conventional processing technologies allow increasing the concentration of TiO2, but they are only a preparation for complex and hazardous selective chlorination. The process of pyrometallurgical conversion of leucoxene-quartz concentrate into aluminium and magnesium titanates was investigated. It was ascertained that the temperature of solid-phase reaction in Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 system necessary for the synthesis of aluminium titanate (Al2TiO5) is 1,558 °С, and for MgO-TiO2-SiO2 system – 1,372 °С. Scaling up the process made it possible to synthesize a significant number of samples of titanate-containing products, the phase composition of which was studied by X-ray phase analysis. Two main phases were identified in the products: 30 % aluminium/magnesium titanate and 40 % silicon dioxide. In products of pyrometallurgical processing in the presence of aluminium, phases of pseudobrookite (3.5 %) and titanite (0.5 %) were also found. It was ascertained that in magnesium-containing system the formation of three magnesium titanates is possible: MgTiO3 – 25, Mg2TiO4 – 35, MgTi2O5 – 40 %. Experiments on sulphuric acid leaching of samples demonstrated a higher degree of titanium compounds extraction during sulphuric acid processing. An integrated conceptual scheme for processing leucoxene-quartz concentrate to produce a wide range of potential products (coagulants, catalysts, materials for ceramic industry) was proposed.
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Date submitted2022-06-20
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Date accepted2022-09-06
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Date published2022-11-03
Adaptive approach formation using machine vision technology to determine the parameters of enrichment products deposition
In this paper, an adaptive approach has been developed for automatic initialization of the thickening curve using machine vision technology, which makes it possible to determine with high accuracy the material parameters necessary for the design of thickening and clarification apparatuses. Software has been developed that made it possible to search for the coordinates of the condensation critical point in automatic mode. Studies on two samples of materials (tailings of apatite-containing ores and gold-bearing concentrate) were carried out and made it possible to statistically prove the reproducibility of the results obtained using the parametric criteria of Fisher and Bartlett. It has been established that the deposition curves are approximated with high accuracy by the Weibull model, which, together with the piecewise linear approximation, makes it possible to formalize the method for determining the critical point coordinates. The empirical coefficients of the Weibull model for two samples are found, and the final liquefaction and settling rates of the studied materials are determined.
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Date submitted2022-05-17
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Date accepted2022-09-06
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Date published2022-11-03
Methodological substantiation of the choice for optimal modes of equipment operation during the stage-wise concentrate removal in iron ores beneficiation
- Authors:
- Alexandr S. Opalev
- Svetlana A. Alekseeva
The urgent task of improving the quality of iron ore concentrates was studied. We propose to use the stage-wise removal of the concentrate by combining fine screening, regrinding, and magnetic-gravity separation. Exemplified by magnetite ore from the Stoilensky GOK, a scientific and methodological approach to the search for optimal separation parameters and modes was substantiated. It includes several stages: studying the particle size distribution and release of useful components in the feed product to select classification parameters; a series of experiments on grinding oversize products to diverse sizes; beneficiation of the obtained products by MG separation. To select the optimal parameters of ore preparation, an analysis of the beneficiation efficiency was used, which is calculated according to the Hancock – Luyken criterion. The results of the research are experimental dependences that connect the process parameters of beneficiation with those of fine vibratory screening. For the studied ferruginous quartzite ore processed at the Stoilensky GOK, the obtained dependences can be described by a second-order polynomial with a high accuracy of approximation. The best performance is achieved with a particle size of 0.1 mm: Fe tot content in the concentrate is 69.7 %, recovery is 85 %, classification efficiency is 80.4 %. The top size of the product in this case is 0.076 mm, which corresponds to 70-73 % grinding size of –0.045 class.
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Date submitted2022-05-10
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Date accepted2022-09-06
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Date published2022-11-03
Flotation separation of titanite concentrate from apatite-nepheline-titanite ores of anomalous zones of the Khibiny deposits
Titanium raw materials are widely used for the synthesis of various functional materials – sorbents of radionuclides and rare earth elements, various additives, filler pigments, etc. Since most of titanium concentrates are imported, in line with the import substitution program, production of titanite concentrate from apatite-nepheline ores of the Khibiny deposits is a promising trend for supplying national industry with titanium raw materials. The article presents the results of laboratory studies of flotation separation of titanite concentrate from apatite-nepheline-titanite ores extracted from the upper ore horizon of the Koashvinskoye deposit, where titanite-enriched ores are concentrated. Recovery of titanite concentrate was accomplished using two reagent modes – a mixture of alkyl hydroxamic and carboxylic acids with the addition of distilled tall oil and a mixture of tall oils with the addition of polyalkyl benzene sulfonic acids. The results of the research showed that the first flotation mode, which allows a selective recovery of titanite into the concentrate (titanite content in the concentrate was 93.5 %) is the most efficient. It was shown that flotation separation of titanite concentrate is preferable compared to the chemical method based on sulfuric acid leaching.
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Date submitted2022-05-03
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Date accepted2022-07-21
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Date published2022-11-03
Determination of rational steam consumption in steam-air mixture flotation of apatite-nepheline ores
Relevance of the study is determined by the decisions taken to increase the production volume of certain commercial products from mineral raw materials. The scale, impact and consequences of the projects on developing the resource-saving technologies for beneficiation of mineral raw materials are socially significant, and the economic growth of mining production complies with the sustainable development goals. The aim of the study is to develop the flotation circuit and mode that improve the technological performance of beneficiation of apatite-nepheline ores of the Khibiny Massif in the Kola Peninsula. The scientific idea of the work is to develop the flotation circuit, the movement of beneficiation products in which ensures a major increase in the content of the recovered component in the rougher flotation procedure with a simultaneous increase in dressability of the material. The above condition is met when mixing the feedstock with rough concentrate. Recovery of the valuable component from the resulting mixture is accomplished in a mode differing from the known ones in that the heat of steam condensation is used to increase water temperature in the interphase film between the particle and the bubble. For pulp aeration during flotation, a mixture of air and hot steam is used as the gas phase. A high recovery of the valuable component in ore flotation according to the developed circuit and mode is facilitated by increasing water temperature in wetting films due to the steam condensation heat. A high selectivity of flotation with a steam-air mixture can be explained using the concepts of a phonon component of disjoining pressure, the value and sign of which are associated with a difference in the dynamic structure of liquid in the wetting film and bulk liquid.
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Date submitted2022-04-20
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Date accepted2022-07-21
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Date published2022-11-03
Iron ore beneficiation technologies in Russia and ways to improve their efficiency
- Authors:
- Aleksei E. Pelevin
Increasing the efficiency of crushing circuits is associated with a decrease in the particle size of finely crushed ore and the use of dry magnetic separation of crushed ore. Reducing grinding costs is achieved by using drum mills jointly with mills of other designs. The use of automation systems, slurry demagnetization, technologies with staged concentrate separation, and beneficiation and fine screening in a closed grinding cycle lead to a reduction in grinding costs. The main industrial technology for improving the quality of concentrate is its additional beneficiation using regrinding, fine screening, flotation, and magnetic-gravity separators. Increasing the integrated use of iron ore raw materials is associated with an increase in the yield of iron concentrate and the production of hematite concentrate during the beneficiation of hematite-magnetite ores and ilmenite concentrate during the beneficiation of titanomagnetite ores. Incremented concentrate yield is possible by using magnetic separators with an increased magnetic induction up to 0.25-0.5 T in the first stages of beneficiation. To obtain hematite and ilmenite concentrates, combined technologies can be used, including fine screening, high-gradient magnetic, gravity, flotation, and electrical separation.
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Date submitted2022-02-22
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Date accepted2022-09-15
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Date published2022-11-10
The problem of the genesis of the Mesoarchean aluminosilicate rocks from the Karelian craton and their possible use as a quartz-feldspar raw material
The article presents original data obtained in the study of the chemical and mineral compositions of the Late Archean aluminosilicate rocks (formerly called silicites) from the Koikari and Elmus structures of the Vedlozero-Segozero greenstone belt of the Karelian craton (Central Karelia). A comprehensive study of these formations revealed their complex genesis as a result of the late imposition of hydrothermal and metamorphic alteration on sedimentary and volcanic-sedimentary rocks of feldspar-quartz composition. Due to the superimposed metasomatic (temperature?) impact on feldspar-quartz siltstones, Fe was removed from microinclusions in quartz and feldspar and its oxides were concentrated along the grain boundaries. Minerals such as monazite, parisite, allanite are also located either along the grain boundaries of quartz and feldspars, or together with calcite they fill microfractures, which makes it possible to get rid of them when preparing quartz-feldspar concentrates using various beneficiation technologies. According to most indicators limited by GOSTs, individual samples in their natural form meet the requirements for quartz-feldspar raw materials for use as part of batch in the production of diverse types of glass. Additional beneficiation of the feedstock (grinding, screening into narrow classes and further magnetic separation) leads to a decrease in Fe 2 O 3 content to normalized values. The resulting quartz-feldspar concentrates with various particle sizes can be used in the production of building material and fine ceramics (sanitary and ceramic products, facing and finishing tiles, artistic, household porcelain and faience). The homogeneity of the mineral and chemical composition, the possibility of compact extraction and beneficiation (including in mobile small-sized installations) increase the prospects and competitiveness of this non-traditional feldspar raw material from Central Karelia.
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Date submitted2022-04-06
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Date accepted2022-06-15
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Date published2022-07-26
Geological and structural position of the Svetlinsky gold deposit (Southern Urals)
The paper presents the geological and structural position of the large Svetlinsky gold deposit in the Kochkar anticline (Southern Urals), localized in the zone of the Late Paleozoic (D 3 ) deep thrust of the western dip. The study confirms and clarifies the notion of its multiphase and polychronism. The thrust caused bending moments in its wings, subsidence of the lying crust, emergence of a shallow marine basin with rapid accumulation of terrigenous carbonate sediments (C 1 v), and formation of numerous landslide structures. The heating of rocks in the anticline core was accompanied by granitization and dome formation. A small Svetlinsky dome formed in the immediate vicinity of the thrust, creating a thermobaric gradient field (С 2 ). The zone of dome dynamic influence also includes the adjoining thrust area, complicated by a series of sub-vertical thrusts of sub meridional strike and numerous steeply dipping subparallel cracks of the latitudinal strike, synchronously filled with vein quartz and accompanied by hydrothermal metasomatic rock transformations. The formation of the gold deposit occurred during the post-collisional relaxation stage (from P 1 to, probably, the Early Jurassic). The association of gold mineralization with the Svetlinsky dome is indicated by the presence of native gold in Neogene ravine placers in the dome area and marbles of the Svetlinsky deposit, in association with fluorite, F-phlogopite, Cr-muscovite, pink topaz, pure quartz, and native sulphur. The presence of native gold in Neogene ravine placers in the dome area and marbles of the Svetlinsky deposit, in association with fluorite, F-phlogopite, Cr-muscovite, pink topaz, pure quartz, and native sulphur, indicates the association of gold mineralization with the Svetlinsky dome.
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Date submitted2022-03-22
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Date accepted2022-06-15
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Date published2022-07-26
Gold in biogenic apatites of the Baltic-Ladoga phosphorite basin
- Authors:
- Sergey B. Felitsyn
- Nadezhda A. Alfimova
The distribution of gold in biogenic apatites from the Ordovician deposits in the northwest of the East European Platform shows that the maximum concentration of gold in apatites is found within the Ladoga-Baltic suture zone. Gold mineralization has a superimposed character, which is confirmed by the dependence of the gold content on the size of apatite particles and a number of isotope geochemical systematics in biogenic apatites. Gold is present in the form of high fineness particles to 20 µm in size on the surface of biogenic apatite fragments (phosphate brachiopod shells and conodont elements) and is easily extracted. In 10 % of samples of biogenic apatites, the total content of rare earth elements is more than 1 wt.%.
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Date submitted2021-06-24
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-27
Development of a methodology to assess the hydrocyclone process with account of the rheological properties of the mineral slurry
- Authors:
- Tatiana N. Aleksandrova
- Vadim A. Potemkin
The paper studies the possibility of assessing the separation of mineral raw materials, taking into account the rheology of the mineral slurry. The ores of the Mayskoye deposit were chosen as the object of the study, characterized by a thin impregnation of the valuable component – gold in the host minerals, which determines the use of fine and ultrafine milling. This fact is essential because the presence of a fine grade seriously affects the rheology of the mineral slurry used in subsequent mineral processing stages. This predetermines the necessity to take into account rheological parameters. The research performed provides the development of a methodology for assessing the separation of minerals in the hydrocyclone based on the interpretation of numerical and mathematical modeling data. using the object-oriented programming language Python, a program for calculating empirical coefficients of the rheological equation, theoretically describing the dynamics of internal transformations of the mineral slurry, was developed. Taking into account the process parameters of the laboratory unit with hydrocyclone and ore properties, three concentrations of solids in the mineral slurry were selected, conditionally corresponding to the minimum, average and maximum values. Rheological equations successively composed for three concentrations, i.e., 400, 500, and 700 g/l, made it possible to calculate the critical shear rates corresponding to the maximum dispersion of the mineral slurry in the hydrocyclone flow. Subsequent numerical simulation using Ansys Fluent software, as well as statistical evaluation of the shear rates at different levels of solids content showed that the shear rate profile in the cross-section of the hydrocyclone corresponding to the maximum dispersion of the mineral slurry is obtained at the content of 400 g/l.
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Date submitted2020-09-15
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Date accepted2021-11-30
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Date published2021-12-27
Evaluating the effectiveness of fine gold extraction technologies on the example of titanomagnetite beach placers of the western coast of Kamchatka
- Authors:
- Valentina E. Kungurova
The material on the gold content of coastal-marine deposits of the western coast of Kamchatka is analyzed and the resource potential is briefly characterized. A review of gold technological estimates obtained from the study of gold-bearing samples taken in promising areas of the coastal-marine strip, from the Bolshaya Vorovskaya River in the north to Cape Levashova in the south, is presented. Stock materials supplemented by our studies were used. Gold-bearing deposits with very fine (0.05-0.1 mm) and fine (0.1-1.0 mm) gold amounting to 94.6 % were tested, as well as samples with gold up to 2 mm and more in addition to fine gold The content of freely recoverable gold reached 91.9 %. In the case of significant gold reserves in placers, prospects for their commercial development open up. experiments on the enrichment of gold-bearing coastal-marine deposits of Western Kamchatka indicate the possibility of extraction of free gold and other valuable components from them. Gravity technologies and modern equipment developed by ОАО Irgiredmet and JSC ITOMAK are the most effective for their extraction. enrichment of gold-bearing formations with simultaneous extraction of several useful components from them, which is possible with the use of fluoride technology, can also become economically advantageous.
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Date submitted2021-06-15
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Date accepted2021-10-18
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Date published2021-12-16
Study on hydrometallurgical recovery of copper and rhenium in processing of substandard copper concentrates
- Authors:
- Denis S. Lutskiy
- Aleksander S. Ignatovich
Over the past decade, there has been a steady growth in demand for rare metals, with rhenium being one of the most highly demanded, but also one of the most expensive and difficult to obtain. The high demand for rhenium is due to its use as a key component of metallurgical alloys or as a component of catalysts used in the oil refining industry. The aggregate of facts causes profitability of processing of the rhenium-containing mineral resources, which also are the copper substandard concentrates obtained at processing of the Zhezkazgan sandstones. The study focuses on the processes of extraction of copper and sorption recovery of rhenium from solutions of ammonia leaching of copper substandard concentrates. Model solutions similar in the elemental composition to solutions of ammonia leaching solutions of copper substandard concentrates obtained during the processing of Zhezkazgan sandstones were used as an object of the study. The paper estimates extraction characteristics of copper recovery using LIX 84-I solution in kerosene, as well as sorption characteristics of the rhenium recovery process using the Purolite PPA100 anion exchanger. Based on the obtained characteristics the possibility of hydrometallurgical processing of ammonia leaching solutions of substandard copper-sulfide concentrates, and recovery of the obtained commercial products is shown.
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Date submitted2020-09-10
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Date accepted2020-11-25
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Date published2021-06-24
Formation conditions of noble metal mineralization in sulfide cobalt-copper-nickel ores of Kamchatka (on the example of Annabergitovaya Schel ore occurrence)
The authors present research results, the purpose of which is to study the specifics of noble metal mineralization and its genesis in sulfide cobalt-copper-nickel ores of the Kamchatka nickel-bearing province. The paper is dedicated to one of its many ore occurrences called Annabergitovaya Schel (Annabergite Gap). The material composition of platinoid, silver, gold, bismuth and tellurium minerals, as well as sulfarsenides in the ores of this occurrence was investigated. Based on the data of mineral formation sequence and the use of geosensors, conclusions were drawn regarding the genesis of noble metal mineralization. Formation of platinoid minerals, silver and gold at the Annabergitovaya Schel ore occurrence is mainly associated with the epigenetic effect of post-ore granitoids on ore-bearing intrusion rocks of the Dukuk complex of the cortlandite-norite formation and on syngenetic ores. An early association of noble metal minerals is represented by sperrylite, irarsite, and rare unnamed phases of Pt + Ir + Te. Irarsite and Pt + Ir + Te phases were formed at the contact-metasomatic stage. Sperrylite can be assumed to be of magmatic origin. Silver sulfides and tellurides, silver and palladium bismuth tellurides, and native gold were formed at the late, hydrothermal-metasomatic, stage. The occurrence conditions of mineral parageneses, associated with noble metal mineralization, correspond to the formation of shallow-depth metasomatic rocks (≤5 km). Sub-developed quartz-feldspar metasomatites, associated with the formation of early platinoid arsenides and sulfarsenides, are in equilibrium with circumneutral solutions (pH of 4.5-6.5) at temperatures of 350-600 °C. Late hydrothermal association with Pd, Ag and Au minerals is close to propylites and was formed at pH values of 4.5-6.5 and temperature of 150-350 °C.
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Date submitted2019-06-06
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Date accepted2019-08-09
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Date published2020-04-24
Studies of enrichment of sulfide and oxidized ores of gold deposits of the Aldan shield
The paper presents the analysis of studies of the enrichment of sulfide and oxidized ores in Yakutia deposits. The ore of the deposit is a mixture of primary, mixed and oxidized ores. The main useful component of the studied ore samples is gold with a content of 1.5 to 2.8 g/t, the silver content is low – 5-17 g/t. Ore minerals are represented by sulfides, among which pyrite predominates. The total sulfide content does not exceed 3-5 %. The presence in the ore of free and associated gold with a grain size from fractions of a micron to 1.5 mm. Gold is represented by nuggets in intergrowth with sulfides and also forms independent inclusions. Ores are classified as easily cyanidable. It was found that the content of amalgamable gold is 10-49, the share of cyanidable gold ranges from 66.67-91, the share of refractory gold is 9.0-33.33 %, which in absolute amount equals to 0.24-0.8 g/t. The extraction of gold in gravitation concentrate varies depending on the gold content in the ore and the yield of concentrate and for ores with a gold content of 1.5-2.8 g/t from 40 to 60 %. The direct cyanidation of all studied ore samples established the possibility of extracting gold into solution up to 86.7-92.9 %, the gold content in cyanidation cakes is 0.2-0.3 g/t. Investigations of the gravitation concentrate by the method of intensive cyanidation showed that with an initial gold content of ~ 500 g/t, up to 98.9 % is extracted into the solution. The gold content in intensive cyanide cakes will be 6-15 g/t. A set of studies carried out by the authors of the article at various institutes showed that it is advisable to process ore from the deposit using cyanidation technology with preliminary gravitational extraction of gold.
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Date submitted2018-09-12
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Date accepted2019-01-05
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Date published2020-04-24
Flotation extraction of elemental sulfur from gold-bearing cakes
- Authors:
- Svetlana A. Ivanik
- Dmitrii A. Ilyukhin
Currently, in the development of the raw materials base of the gold mining industry, there is a tendency to reduce the quality of the initial mineral raw materials due to the depletion of reserves of rich gold-bearing ores. The article discusses the technology of extraction of refractory gold-bearing concentrates based on low-temperature leaching of pyrite concentrate. A decrease in the parameters of the autoclave oxidation of sulfide minerals, such as pyrite and arsenopyrite, leads to the incomplete extraction of gold into the solution and, consequently, its losses during subsequent cyanidation. As a possible option for a more complete extraction of gold using low-temperature oxidation technology, a method of flotation separation of elemental sulfur from leaching cakes is proposed. According to the basic process flow chart, the flotation process designed for gold extraction is carried out after autoclave oxidation, but before cyanidation. A series of experiments were carried out with varying reagent conditions and the dependence of gold losses on the extraction of elemental sulfur in the flotation tailings was established. As determining factors, pH and solid content in the initial pulp were considered. The paper justifies the separation of elemental sulfur from autoclave cake to enriched sulfur concentrate. The cake flotation modes after autoclave oxidative leaching of pyrite concentrate are investigated. The distribution of elemental sulfur and gold by flotation products makes it possible to conduct the tailings cyanidation process with acceptable indicators.