Abstract
Heavy mineral sands are the source of various commodities such as white titanium dioxide pigment and titanium metal. The three case studies in this paper show the value of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and statistical methods such as data clustering for process optimization and quality control during heavy mineral processing. The potential of XRD as an automatable, reliable tool, useful in the characterization of heavy mineral concentrates, product streams and titania slag is demonstrated. The recent development of ultra-high-speed X-ray detectors and automated quantification allows for ‘on the fly’ quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis and truly interactive process control, especially in the sector of heavy mineral concentration and processing. Apart from the information about the composition of a raw ore, heavy mineral concentrate and the various product streams or titania slag, this paper provides useful information by the quantitative determination of the crystalline phases and the amorphous content. The analysis of the phases can help to optimize the concentration of ores and reduction of ilmenite concentrate. Traditionally, quality control of heavy mineral concentrates and titania slag relies mainly on elemental, chemical, gravimetrical, and magnetic analysis. Since the efficiency of concentration of minerals in the different product streams and reduction depends on the content of the different minerals, and for the latter on the titanium and iron phases such as ilmenite FeTiO3, rutile TiO2, anatase TiO2, or the various titanium oxides with different oxidation stages, fast and direct analysis of the phases is required.
Highlights
Heavy minerals naturally occur in relatively small concentrations, so that specialized preparation systems equipped with spiral separators, electrostatic separators and magnetic separators are required for concentration and separation
The objective of the three case studies in this paper is to demonstrate that X-ray difdiffraction (XRD) can be used as fast and reliable process control tool for heavy mineral fraction (XRD)sand can concentration be used as fastand andbeneficiation
The use of X-ray diffraction (XRD) for process control during ilmenite smelting is discussed in case study III
Summary
Commonly known as heavy minerals because of their relatively high specific density compared to sand (more than 4 kg/m3 ), are an important source of various titanium raw materials and zircon. These metals and their oxides have become extremely important for various sectors of industry. Mineral beneficiation relies on quantitative knowledge of phases present in the process streams. This information is necessary to optimize each step from the flowsheet in Figure 1 to process and upgrade the mined heavy mineral sand.
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