Physical Methods and Flotation Practice in the Beneficiation of a Low Grade Tungsten-Bearing Scheelite Ore

Abstract

In this paper, beneficiation studies were carried out on a low-grade tungsten-bearing scheelite from Nezam Abad ore with total WO3 grade of 0.11%. Mineralogical studies showed that scheelite is mainly distributed in the ore and gangue minerals include Quartz and Tourmaline. Liberation degree (d80) of tungsten- bearing scheelite is achieved around particles size 150 μm. Gravity concentration, magnetic and flotation methods were conducted by using experimental designs including fractional factorial and response surface methodology. Gravity concentration results indicated that jig separator could not be able to improve tungsten grade in size fraction +600–1750 μm; however, shaking table increased feed grade up to 27.05% with total recovery more than 50% by using four stages concentration in the size range of +125–600 μm. Multi Gravity Separator (MGS) applied on the intermediate products, improved efficiently the total tungsten recovery of the circuit. The results of flotation practice on the pre-concentrated product demonstrated that WO3 grade could be increased up to 9.2% with total recovery of 27.04% by using one stage rougher and four stages of cleaning. Different methods including MGS, wet and dry magnetic separation were considered for upgrading fines from grinding stages; however, only MGS result was satisfactory. The MGS produced a product with WO3 grade 0.64% and total recovery 93%.