Mineralogical Characterization and Beneficiation Studies of Pyrophyllite from Orissa, India

B. Das, J.K. Mohanty

Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Bhubaneswar-751013, Orissa..

DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2009.84029                

Abstract

Mineralogical and chemical analyses of three textural varieties of pyrophyllite samples collected from Baliadihi mine of Keonjhar district, Orissa, India are investigated. Mineralogically they consist of quartz, pyrophyllite, altered feldspar as major minerals and muscovite, chlorite, tourmaline, hematite etc. as minor minerals. The samples exhibit compositional variation of SiO₂ 65.56 - 71.66%, Al₂O₃ 18.79- 22.94%, FeO 1.13- 1.68% and alkalis 3.24 to 6 %. Beneficiation studies using flotation technique has indicated that silica can be reduced with concomitant increase in alumina and brightness from a raw pyrophyllite sample which can be suitable for refractory purposes.

Keywords

Pyrophyllite, characterisation, flotation, brightness

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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