Physical Concentration of Heavy Minerals: A Brief Review on Low and High Intensity Magnetic Separation Process Techniques

Abstract

AbstractChoice selection and application variation of physical beneficiation techniques usually employed on heavy minerals (HMs) depends greatly on mineralogy, composition, shape, particle size distribution, and physicochemical properties of the minerals. Recent advancements in the applications of HM products by modern science, engineering, technological, and metallurgical production industries, especially in the demand by nuclear and power industries, have significantly increased over the decades. This is the reason for the criticality and commerciality of HM products, which has necessitated their high demand by various industries. The recovery of HMs, such as Zr, Hf, Ti, V, Sn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Nb, Ta, and REE associated minerals, from their deposits is dependent on the extractive metallurgy of transition and refractory metals from their complex minerals. However, based on the mineral concentration effectiveness, as well as the metal extraction efficiency, several challenges have been encountered in their recovery and separation from associated impurities. On this premise, this brief review is focused on investigating magnetic separation process applications in the beneficiation/recovery of HMs. This will serve as a tool for efficient mineral concentration and upgrade as well as reducing the process steps and extraction complexity involved in the downstream measures of dissolution/decomposition and pyro-hydrometallurgical separation processes.