Study of the enrichment of glauconite from the Kainarbulak deposit

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This work presents the results of material composition analysis of a process sample of glauconite ore from the Kainarbulak deposit, using chemical, mineralogical, and granulometric methods. Based on the sample’s material composition and a review of relevant literature, enrichment methods were selected according to the physical properties of minerals and their aggregates, including size classification, and electromagnetic separation. Experimental studies were conducted in the chemical and technological laboratories of the Institute of Mineral Resources, University of Geological Sciences, Republic of Uzbekistan. Comprehensive chemical analysis of the composite sample determined the following major components (wt.%): SiO2 — 46.82, Al2O3 — 6.5, Fe2O3 — 25.49, P2O5 — 0.17, CaO — 0.98, K2O — 5.91, Na2O — 0.37. Grain size distribution analysis of the ore sample, crushed to size fractions of 0.315, –0.315+0.25, –0.25+0.1, and –0.1 mm, showed an increase in glauconite content in the finer fractions, reaching 77.3–78.9 % by weight. Dry electromagnetic separation (current strength: 4 A) yielded magnetic and non-magnetic fractions of 18.6 % and 81.4 %, respectively. The recovery of glauconite was 78.3 %. Laboratory tests produced a concentrate with a glauconite content of 81.1 % and a recovery of 78.3 %, meeting the quality requirements of TU 2164-003-45670985-05 and TU 2164-001-91350088-2011. These results confirm the practical applicability of the concentrate as an effective sorbent for water and petroleum product purification, a mineral fertilizer for agricultural technologies, and a component in paints and varnishes.