Author(s)

Sunita Routray, R. Bhima Rao

Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology(Council of Scientific and Industrial Research)Bhubaneswar 751 013, India.

This paper deals with the recovery of zircon minerals from beach sand and red sediments of bad land topography and flow sheets with material balance are suggested. The experimental data reveal that the total heavy mineral content of red sediment sample is 43.9% in which zircon mineral concentrate is 2.75% by weight, where as for beach-dune sand sample the THM content is 16.7% in which zircon mineral concentrate is 0.16% by weight. It is found that U and Th and REE elements contents are much higher in red sediment zircon sample than beach sand zircon. Zircon concentrates recovered from beach-dune sand and red sediments contain 98 to 98.1% zircon with 79.6 to 80% recovery respectively. These zircon minerals from both the sources are suitable for industrial applications.

Beach -Dune sand, Red Sediment, Zircon, Beneficiation, Characterization

S. Routray and R. Rao, "Beneficiation and Characterization of Detrital Zircons from Beach Sand and Red Sediments in India," Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, Vol. 10 No. 15, 2011, pp. 1409-1428. doi: 10.4236/jmmce.2011.1015110.