Batch and Pilot Plant beneficiation studies low grade Fluorspar from Rajasthan production of acid and metallurgical grade spar

Abstract

Comprehensive Laboratory and Pilot Plant investigation have been made on the beneficiation of a fluorspar sample received from the Director of Mines and Geology, Rajasthan with a view to decreasing its gangue content so that the beneficiated product could be could be used for acid manufacture or as a flux in steel making. The sample assaying 21.2% CaF2, 6.6% CaCO3, 67.1% SiO2, 1.6% Al2O3, 1.8% Fe2O3 with traces of Pb and S was subjected to forth flotation after grinding it to suitable fineness, employing oleic acid emulsion as fluorite collector and silicate and/or Katha as gangue depressant. Pilot Plant investigations indicated that two flotations concentrates, one suitable for acid manufacture and the other for metallurgical use could simultaneously be produced with a total recovery of 79.5% CaF2 in the two concentrates.