Experimental Study on Processing of Fluorite Ore from Chaoyang of China 217

Experimental Study on Processing of Fluorite Ore from

Chaoyang of China
Gao Hui-min, Tu Wen-mao, Guan Jun-fang, MaoYi-lin,
Jing Zheng-qiang and Leng Yang
Resources and Environment Engineering College, Wuhan University of Technology,
Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430070, China

ABSTRACT: The contrastive experiments were conducted on nonuniformly embedded fluorite ore with rod
milling and ball milling respectively. The results showed that ball milling had a good property of selective
grinding. Single factor tests were conducted on pH regulator, depressant and collector separately in two-
stage-flotation tests. The optimal flotation conditions were established through the tests. Concentrate grade
reached 98.65% in two-stage-flotation test, but the recovery was merely 47.26%. In one-stage closed-circuit
flotation, the concentrate grade was more than 97% and the recovery exceeded 81%.

1. CHARACTER OF CRUDE ORE
Fifteen samples were spacing collected according
to the mining project of the mine. Chemical
analysis, characteristic analysis and mineral
composition analysis on these samples were
conducted separately. The results of chemical
analysis showed that K2O and Na2O content was
very low in all the samples. The highest content
was merely 0.12%, and the rest were all below
0.1% or could not be detected; Fe2O3 content was
low, and was usually below 0.5%; Al2O3 content
was also usually below 0.5%, and the highest
content was 1.61%; MgO, P2O5 and S content
was also very low. It can be learned from the
above that the harmful component was SiO2.
The results of mineral composition analysis
showed that the main composition of these
samples was quartz, fluorite and a little calcite.
The results of mineral characteristic analysis
showed that ore embedded size were very
nonuniform. The size of coarse fluorite particles
reached 0.700 mm, but the size of fine fluorite
particles reached 0.010 mm. Furthermore, quartz
and fluorite wrapped each other and was very
hard for grinding and processing.
1.1 The Samples
The processing samples were blended with the
15 mineral samples above according to reserves
Table 1-1: Chemical analysis results of sample
grade. Testing results of the samples were shown
in table 1-1. The fluorite content was 45.55%. The
results of mineral composition analysis showed
that the main minerals in these samples were
quartz (containing chalcedony and opal) and
fluorite, and their content was about 53% and 45%.
2. GRINDING TESTS
Grinding tests indicate that rod milling size was
homogeneous and rod milling products were less
over-ground ores. The fine size content and
fluorite grade of ball milling were higher, and ball
milling had a good property of selective grinding.
Mesh-of-grind was established by flotation
experiments. Initially, grinding time was
established for 4, 5, 6 and 7 minutes and the size
content of -0.074 mm was established in the range
of 53.6% ～ 78.8%. The relationship between
grinding time and size content of -0.074 mm is
shown in figure 2-1. The grinding conditions and
flotation results are shown in figure 2-2.
It can be seen from figure 2-2 that the grade
and recovery of concentrate were both the highest
and might continue to increase as grinding time
increased, but the size content of –0.074 mm
exceeded 80%, it was very difficult to reach 80%
in plant though one-stage grinding. So it is
confirmed that grinding time was 6 minutes, with
the size content of –0.074 mm being 78.8%.
Na2SiO3
218  Mineral Processing Technology (MPT 2007)
Testing item Si P S Fe K Mg Al Ca F Loss of ignition
content(%) 12.25 0.020 0.016 0.26 0.052 0.09 0.29 23.25 22.2 9.74

%
100
ent/
cont
)
mm 90
45
0.0 80
-
ize(
S 70
6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Ball milling time/main
(a)

100
0.074mm)content

90
Size(-

80
(%)

70

60

50
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Rod milling time/min

(b)
Fig. 2-1: Variation of sizecontent with rod milling time

100
Recovery
90
%
t/
en 80
rc 70 Grade
Pe
60 [Na2CO3 ， 1600g/t]
[Na2SiO3, 2500g/t]
50 [y-4 1500g/t]
40
3 4 5 6 7
Rod milling time/min
Fig. 2-2: Relationship between rod milling time and processing index

3. PROCESSING TESTS 3.1 Two-stage Flotation Tests

Experimental Study on Processing of Fluorite Ore from Chaoyang of China
Ore embedded size was very nonuniform and ore
grade was not high, so most of the tailings could
be thrown away through two-stage grinding. It
would reduce the load of two-stage grinding,
decrease the concentrating pulp volume and
reduce the product cost.
Roughing Flotation Tests
The reagent system was established in roughing
flotation test. The pH was 8.5, Na2SiO3 dosage
was 900 g/t, and the oleic acid dosage was 300
g/t. In this reagent system, processing index was
that yield was 50%, grade was 81.46%, recovery
was 89.42%, and mineral processing efficiency
was 39.42%.
Concentrating Flotation Tests
The Comparison Test between Acid and Alkali
Conditions: Under the alkali condition, flotation
selectivity was bad, and was harmful for
improving concentrate grade; however, improving
concentrate grade was the main aim of
concentrating flotation. Under the acid
condition,calcite was depressed and concentrate
219
was dewatered and filtered easily. So
concentrating flotation test would be carried out
under the acid condition.
Regrinding Tests of Primary Concentrate: Test
conditions and results of these tests are shown in
figure 3-1.
We can conclude from figure 3-1 that the
regrinding time was established as 10 minutes.
An experiment was performed to improve
concentrate grade by increasing depressant
dosage on the primary concentrate, which had
been ground for 6 minutes or 10 minutes. The
reagent system is shown in table 3-1 and the test
results are shown in table 3-2.
It can be seen from table 3-3 that large
depressant dosage could improve the concentrate
grade, and made the concentrate grade reach
98%. However, the concentrate yield and
recovery decreased sharply, and there was no
practical value.
Classification was performed on
concentrates, whose grade was 95.76%, and there
was a chemical analysis on the classified
products. The results are shown in table 3-3.

99 80
Recovery
% 70 y %
e 98.5 60 ver
ad 50 eco
98 Grade 40 R
[PH 6.0]
Gr
30
[Na2 SiO3 Cleaning1,1000g/t; Cleaning2,1000g/t]
97.5 [Na2SiO3 Cleaning3, 800g/t; Cleaning4, 800g/t] 20
[Na2SiO3 Cleaning5, 600g/t; Cleaning6, 600g/t]
3 10
0
97
4 6 8 10 12
Regrinding time
Fig. 3-1: Results/min
of regrinding tests of primary concentrate
220  Mineral Processing Technology (MPT 2007)
Table 3-3: Test results of classification of
concentrate
Size(mm) Yield% Grade% Distribution% Remark
+0.075 6.10 90.89 5.81 –
-0.075～ 32.70 93.03 31.86 – locked test Ⅱ would be operated.
+0.045
-0.045 61.20 97.23 62.33 – In locked test Ⅱ, the concentrate yield was
Total 100.00 95.45 100.00
Assay
95.76%
Table 3-3 shows that the concentrate grade at
the size of -0.045 mm was the highest, which
means that the larger the degree of liberation of
fine-grained products, the higher the grade; the
degree of liberation of coarse-grained products
was low, and its grade was also low due to the
influence of locked-middling grains. Therefore
primary concen-trate needed to regrind,so that
fluorite and gangue mineral could be liberated.
Two-stage Rod Milling Locked Tests: In roughing
flotation, reagent system was the same as the
above and the regrinding time was 10 minutes. In
cleaning flotation, reagent system was that oleic
acid dosage was 300 g/t, Na2SO3 dosage was
1000 g/t in Cleaning; in Cleaning Ⅱ, Na2SO3
dosage was also 1000 g/t; in Cleaning Ⅲ and Ⅳ,
Na2SO3 dosages were both 800 g/t; in Cleaning
Ⅴ, Na2SO3 dosage was 600 g/t. PH was
maintained at 8.5 in roughing flotation and was
maintained at 6.0 in cleaning and scavenging
concentrate flotation. Closed circuitⅠwas that
crude ores were ground firstly, then one roughing
and one scavenging were performed, concentrate
of scavenging returned to roughing flotation; after
primary concentrate was reground, five cleanings
were operated, cleaning middling was centralized
returned for regrinding, CleaningⅠtailings were
discarded after scavenging, scavenging
concentrate and cleaning middling were
combined and returned for regrinding.
In locked testⅠ, the concentrate yield was
30.47%, the grade was 97.61%, the recovery was
65.29%; The roughing tailing yield was 40.04%,
the grade was 1.34%; the cleaning tailing yield
was 24.21%, and the grade was 39.18%.
The results show that the grade of roughing
tailing was low, but the grade of cleaning tailing
was high, the final concentrate grade did not reach
98%. Therefore, roughing depressant dosage was
increased one time more than before,
simultaneously, middling regrinding time was
improved from 10 minutes to 12 minutes, then
21.82%, the grade was 98.65%, the recovery was
47.26%; the roughing tailing yield was 43.18%,
the grade was 1.23%; the cleaning tailing yield
was 25.45%, the grade was 33.91%. When
concentrate grade increased to 98.65%, the
recovery decreased to 47.26%.
The screening analysis was performed on
roughing tailing, cleaning tailing and concentrate.
The results is opposite as usually, the finer
the tailing particles, the lower the grade; the larger
the particles, the higher the grade.. The grade at
the size of 0.045 mm reached 98.65%. Hydraulic
classification was operated on the particles with
the size of -0.045 mm.
The results shows that the grade with the size
of -0.030 ～ +0.020 mm was the highest and
reached 99.42%. The grades of others (--0.010
mm, -0.020+0.010mm, -0.020+0.010mm)were
both above 98%. Therefore, the samples with the
size of -0.045 mm were completely separated.
After primary concentrate was reground,
screen classification was made. Products with the
size of +0.045 mm were returned for regrinding,
products with the size of -0.045 mm were floated,
floatation results were that concentrate yield was
23.60%, concentrate grade was 97.85% and
recovery was 50.70%. Concentrate grade had a
little increase, but did not reach 98%.
3.2 One-stage Ball Milling Flotation
Tests
As can be seen from grinding tests, ball milling
had a property of selective grinding, not only
fluorite and gangue could be separated, but also
large gangue particles could be ground. So ball
milling was selected in one-stage grinding, then
roughing and cleaning were made.
Ball Milling Flotation Tests
Experimental Study on Processing of Fluorite Ore from Chaoyang of China
After crude ores were ground for 7, 10, 15 and 18
minutes respectively by ball mill, flotation was
operated on these samples. Reagent system of
roughing and cleaning is shown in table 3-4, test
results are shown in figure 3-2.
As is shown in figure 3-2, the concentrate
grade increased as grinding time increased. When
grinding time was 18 minutes, the concentrate
yield decreased, and the concentrate grade did not
have a noticeable increase. Therefore, one-stage
ball milling time was established as 15 minutes.
Roughing and cleaning were made after the
crude ores were ground for 15 minutes and the
concentrate yield was 36.60%, the concentrate
grade was 97.25% and the recovery was 78.14%.
221
Floatation Locked Tests
One-stage ball milling closed floatation
circuit test was established, the test flowsheet was
one roughing and eight cleanings; Tailing 1 was
discarded in roughing, Tailing 2 was discarded in
CleaningⅠ, middlings in Cleaning Ⅱ-Ⅷ were
centralized returned to CleaningⅠ. Reagent
system is shown in table 3-5.
Closed circuit test results reveals that the
yield of Tailing 1 was 43.60%, its grade was
6.69% and its distribution was 6.40%; the yield of
Tailing 2 was 18.00%, its grade was 28.12% and
its distribution was 11.11%; concentrate yield was
38.40%, its grade was 97.21% and its recovery
was 81.95%.

%
% 38 Grade
98 e
d 36 96
Yield ad
el 34 94 Gr
Yi 32 92
30 90
28 88
7 10 15 18
Grinding time/min
Fig. 3-2: Test results of one-stage ball milling flotation test

Table 3-4: Reagent regime of one-stage ball milling flotation test

Operation name Floatation concentration(%) Na2CO3 (g/t） Na2SiO3 (g/t) Oleic Acid (g/t)
Roughing 25 2400 900 300
Cleaning — H2SO4（g/t） Na2SiO3(g/t) Oleic Acid (g/t)
Cleaning I 16 200 1000 —
Cleaning II 13 100 1000 —
Cleaning III 11 100 800 —
Cleaning IV 10 100 800 —
Cleaning V 9 100 600 —
222  Mineral Processing Technology (MPT 2007)
Table 3-5: Reagent system of closed circuit
Operation name Na2CO3 Na2SiO3 Oleic acid
Roughing 1200 900 300
Cleaning H2SO4 Na2SiO3 oleic acid
Cleaning I 800 1000 —
Cleaning II 400 1000 —
Cleaning III 400 800 —
Cleaning IV 400 800 —
Cleaning V 400 600 —
Cleaning VI 400 600 —
Cleaning VII 400 600 —
Cleaning VIII 400 600 —

4. CONCLUSIONS

1. Ore embedded size was fine and fluorite

wrapped chalcedony, so it was hard to
acquire first-class fluorite, whose grade was
higher than 98%.
2. Ball milling had a good property of selective
grinding, so one-stage grinding could be
made by ball milling.
3. Concentrate grade could reach 98.65% in
two-stage rod milling flotation, but the
recovery was merely 47.26%; when
concentrate grade was 97.61%, the recovery
was 65.29%.
4. In one-stage ball milling closed-circuit
floatation, concentrate grade was 97.21% and
the recovery was 81.95%.

REFERENCES

[1] Chen Bin, Zhou Xiao-si.(2004). Experimental

Study of Flotation of Fluorite Ore. Yunnan
Metallurgy, Jun, Vol. 33, No. 3.
[2] Chen Hong, Liu De-jun. (2005). The
Experimental Research on A Refractory Fluorite.
Non-ferrous Mining and Metallurgy, August, Vol.
21,No. l4
[3] Xiong Shu-hua.(2004). Floatation Condition for
Super-grade Fluorite Concentrate Production
from Fluorite Ore in Guizhou. Nonferrous
Metals, Vol. 56, No. 14.
[4] Yang Jin-lin, Zhang Hong-mei et al. (2005).
Research on flotation of fluorite at normal
temperature. Industrial Minerals and Processing.
Experimental Study on Processing of Fluorite Ore from Chaoyang of China 223
[5] Zhu Jian-guang. (2004). Several Problems of [6] Zhou Wen-bo, Deng Yu-zhen (2005). Study on
Fluorite Flotation, Metallic Ore Dressing Abroad. the Ore Characteristics and Flotation Process of a
Zhejiang Fluorite Mine. Conversation and
Utilization of Mineral Resources, June, No. 3.