Enrichment of Molybdenum and Fluorite by Flotation of Fluorite Ore Containing Molybdenum

Abuzer Akgün, İbrahim Teğin, Recep Ziyadanoğulları

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Art, Dicle University,21280 Diyarbakir, TURKEY.

DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2006.52007                

Abstract

The molybdenum and fluorite were obtained in different phases with the flotation of fluorite ore containing molybdenum obtained from Karaamagaradere-Keban-Elazig district in Turkey. It has been found that the original ore contains 1.08 % Mo, 0.05 %Cu, 1.20 % Pb, 1.12 % Zn and 12.0 % F. It was determined that molybdenum and fluorite could not be enriched in different phases with satisfactory yields by flotation of original ore at the defined size. Thus, the ore was sulfurized before the flotation. Concentrates containing molybdenum and the other concentrates containing fluorite were collected with fairly high yields in different phases by the flotation of the sulfurized ore. In the optimum flotation conditions, the Mo, Pb, Cu and Zn were obtained over 95% yields and approximately 6 % fluorite passed into concentrate phase. Mo and Cu containing phase were enriched with high yield by selective flotation of concentrate obtained from the concentrate. On the other hand, the most of Pb and Zn remained in tailing. In order to gain molybdenum, the ppropriate concentrate was obtained by this process with hydrometallurgical method. It was also determined that the trace amounts of Ta, Nb and V in ore were collected in the concentrate phase. In the first step of flotation, the fluorite left in the tailing contained 29.6 % of CaF₂. After flotation of this tailing, concentrate grade of CaF₂ raised to 96%. 0.5% of sulfur was found in this concentrate. It was concluded that this concentrate contained fluorite with suitable particle size (-100 mesh) and at sufficient concentration for metallurgical processes.

Keywords

Molybdenum, fluorite, sulfurization, flotation

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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