Beneficiation studies on low-grade molybdenite samples from Tamil Nadu

Beneficiation studies were conducted at the National Metallurgical Laboratory on three low grade samples from the recently discovered molybdenite deposits in Karadikuttam area, Madurai Dt., Tamilnadu, assaying between 0.038 and 0.168% Mo. The samples consisted of quartz, and micas with minor amounts of pyrite, chalcopyrite, magnetite, molybdenite, etc. The molybdenite was fairly medium grained and flaky in nature. Selective flotation of molybdenite yielded encouraging results. The concentrates assayed between 43% Mo and 54.7% Mo with recoveries between 71 and 81.6%. The concentrates were suitable for commercial utilization. (C. Satyanarayana, M.V. Ranganathan, S.K. Banerjee and G.P. Mathur, National Metallurgical Laboratory)