Technological mineralogy as a framework for the integrated mineral mining : A case-study of the Upper Shchugor bauxite deposit

Abstract

Technological mineralogy constitutes a significant part in the concept of integrated development of solid minerals resources. Aiming to evolve Academician Vaisberg’s ideas, the authors undertook assaying of Upper Shchugor bauxites described with the complex mineral composition, texture and structure, as well as with the high content of particulates. For the fruitful development of bauxites, it is required to implement the in-depth analysis using modern mineralogical research methods toward complete processing of mineral substance, extending the list of recoverable useful components and products with new properties, efficient waste management and optimization of process flow charts. Russian bauxite resources are concentrated in the Middle and South Timan. The lack of high-quality bauxites in Russia justifies the heightened attention given to the rebellious Timan bauxites which possess a complex material constitution. The ore-forming mineral and minerals of commercial relevance are assayed. The Upper Shchugor bauxites is the complex ore which features an increased content of rare earth elements and a variable content of iron oxides (0.6–47 %). The ore is composed of bauxite of three types: low-, medium- and high-ferruginous. The interphase boundary interactions in bauxite as a composite material, the composition and distribution of rare metal impurities are identified. The promising trends of bauxite processing technology with regard to the structural features of the material are discussed. The authors express their gratitude to the Analyst and Candidate Geological and Mineralogical Sciences Yu. S. Simakova and to the Geonauka Shared Use Center for the help in the research implementation.The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 21-47-00019, and by the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Project No. 42061134018.