Method of beneficiating phosphate ores
AssigneeInternational Minerals & Chemical Corp.
InventorsJames E. Lawver, Robert E. Snow, Walter O. McClintock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is disclosed for beneficiating a phosphate ore matrix containing apatite, siliceous gangue, and an alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impuritywhich includes the steps of washing and sizing the ore, subjecting it to a gravity separation, a conventional "double float" flotation, and a phosphate-carbonate flotation separation to provide a phosphate ore concentrate having a high BPL content and a relatively low concentration of alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity.
Claims21
A method for beneficiating a phosphate ore matrix containing apatite, siliceous gangue, and an alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity, comprising the steps of
- (a) washing and sizing the ore matrix to substantially deslime the matrix and to remove particles larger than from about 2 mesh to about 5 mesh, thereby forming a deslimed ore matrix;
- (b) splitting the deslimed ore matrix at about 12 to about 20 mesh to form a pebble fraction having a particle size greater than about 12 to about 20 mesh and a middle ore fraction having a particle size less than about 12 to about 20 mesh;
- (c) subjecting the pebble fraction to a gravity separation wherein a portion of the less dense alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity is separated from the apatite, thereby producing a low-carbonate fraction;
- (d) splitting the middle ore fraction at about 24 mesh to about 32 mesh to form a coarse fraction having a particle size greater than about 24 mesh to about 32 mesh and a fine fraction having a particle size smaller than about 24 mesh to about 32 mesh;
- (e) combining the coarse fraction with the pebble fraction to enter the gravity separation of step (c);
- (f) comminuting, sizing and desliming the low-carbonate fraction to a deslimed particle size of less than about 24 to about 32 mesh, thereby forming a flotation feed containing discreet particles of apatite and siliceous gangue;
- (g) subjecting the flotation feed to a "double float" flotation, thereby forming a low silica intermediate flotation concentrate;
- and
- (h) subjecting the low silica intermediate flotation concentrate to a flotation to remove alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity therefrom and to form a phosphate concentrate.
A method for beneficiating a phosphate ore matrix containing apatite, siliceous gangue, and an alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity, comprising the steps of
- (a) washing and sizing the ore matrix to substantially deslime the matrix and to remove particles larger than from about 2 mesh to about 5 mesh thereby forming a deslimed ore matrix;
- (b) splitting the deslimed ore matrix at about 12 to about 20 mesh to form a pebble fraction having a particle size greater than about 12 to about 20 mesh and a middle ore fraction having a particle size less than about 12 to about 20 mesh;
- (c) subjecting the pebble fraction to a gravity separation wherein a portion of the less dense alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity is separated from the apatite, thereby producing a low carbonate fraction;
- (d) splitting the middle ore fraction at about 24 mesh to about 32 mesh to form a coarse fraction having a particle size greater than about 24 mesh to about 32 mesh and a fine fraction having a particle size smaller than about 24 mesh to about 32 mesh;
- (e) combining the coarse fraction with the pebble fraction to enter the gravity separation of step (c);
- (f) comminuting, sizing and desliming the low-carbonate fraction to a deslimed particle size of less tha about 24 to about 32 mesh,thereby forming a flotation feed;
- (g) subjecting the flotation feed to a flotation to remove alkaline earth metal carbonate impurity therefrom and to form a phosphate concentrate.
A method for beneficiating a phosphate ore matrix containing apatite, siliceous gangue, and an alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity, comprising the steps of
- (a) washing and sizing the ore matrix to substantially deslime the matrix and to remove particles larger than from about 2 mesh to about 5 mesh, thereby forming a deslimed ore matrix;
- (b) splitting the deslimed ore matrix at about 12 to about 20 mesh to form a pebble fraction having a particle size greater than about 12 to about 20 mesh and a middle ore fraction having a particle size less than about 12 to about 20 mesh;
- (c) subjecting the pebble fraction to a gravity separation wherein a portion of the less dense alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity is separated from the apatite, thereby producing a low-carbonate fraction;
- (d) splitting the middle ore fraction at about 24 mesh to about 32 mesh to form a coarse fraction having a particle size greater than about 24 mesh to about 32 mesh and a fine fraction having a particle size smaller than about 24 mesh to about 32 mesh;
- (e) combining the coarse fraction with the low-carbonate fraction from the gravity separation of step (c);
- (f) comminuting, sizing and desliming the low-carbonate fraction to a deslimed particle size of less than about 24 to about 32 mesh, thereby forming a flotation feed;
- (g) subjecting the flotation feed to a flotation to remove alkaline earth metal carbonate mineral impurity and to form a phosphate concentrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.