Beneficiation of Limestone Sample (KAG-1) from Yeotmal Dt., Maharashtra

Abstract

A high silica limestone sample marked KAG-1 from Yeotmal Dt., Maharashtra was received from the Director of Geology & Mining, Govt, of Maharashtra, for beneficiation studies at National Metallurgical Laboratory to make it suitable for cement manufacture. The sample as received assayed 41. 52% Ca0, 0.71% Mg0, 22.37% Si02, 1.0% Al203, 32.8% CO2 and 33,5% L.O.I. Quartz was the principal gangue and grinding the Sample to about 150 mesh was sufficient to produce a cement grade concentrate, Flotation after grinding to 97.2% -200 mesh and employing 0,5 Kg/ton of sodium silicate and 0,5 Kg/ton of oleic acid emulsion followed by one cleaning of the rougher float yielded a refloat concentrate assaying 47.2% Ca0 and 13.3% Si02, with a recovery of 89.6% Ca0. The concentrate is of a grade suitable for cement making. Cleanings of the rougher float were performed, a better grade limestone concentrate assaying 53.0% Ca0, 5,4% S102 with Ca0 recovery in the product of 73.3% could be produced.