Developing the technology of feldspar raw materials pre-flotation conditioning at the Kedrovoe deposit

Abstract

Introduction. When developing the technology of fieldspar raw material processing, it is essential to select efficient modes of grinding and desliming. Research aim is to develop the technology of feldspar raw materials pre-flotation conditioning at the Kedrovoe deposit as applied to the technology of JSC Malyshevskoye rudoupravlenie. Methodology. Feldspar grinding kinetics in a ball mill was determined, and useful minerals disclosure degree was determined using AXIO Imager A1m optical microscope. The optimal size of sludge in ISSN 0536-1028 «Известия вузов. Горный журнал», № 8, 2020 61 hydrocycloning has also been identified. The object of research was a representative sample of pegmatites from the Kedrovoe deposit. Results. The research results showed that the optimal grinding time is 30 minutes, the content of the +0.16 mm size class is no more than 20–22%, and the optimal class for disliming with minimal losses of feldspar is minus 40 microns. The best results for product classification were obtained at a pressure at the inlet of the hydrocyclone of 1.2 bar, a sand packing diameter of 7 mm. The solids content in the feed was 24.15%, the content of particles with a size of minus 40 microns in the drain was 96.19%. Conclusions. Investigation of feldspar raw materials grinding and desliming at the Kedrovoe deposit made it possible to obtain dependencies for the effective control of the sludge content of minus 40 microns in the hydrocyclone discharge by changing the solids content in the feed and to identify effective grinding modes.