Physical processing for polymetallic mineralization of Abu Rusheid mylonitic rocks, South Eastern Desert of Egypt

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, the mineralogical content of Abu Rusheid mylonite sample was investigated and revealed that the sample is essentially composed of quartz and feldspar (72.14% mass), muscovite (16.6% mass), and contains heavy economic polymetallic minerals of about 2.65% by mass. By studying the differences in the physical properties of this mineral content, a proposed flow sheet was set up to explain the successive physical upgrading steps for concentrating and separating the valuable minerals content and getting rid of the associated gangue minerals. Industrial, economic and strategic polymetallic minerals were identified at Abu Rusheid mylonite sample, including cassiterite, titanite, brass, kasolite, monazite, and uranothorite. A group of sulfide minerals also existed as pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena, and molybdenite in addition to the presence of fluorite and iron oxides bearing rare earth elements (REEs) and base metals. Using dry high intensity magnetic separation followed by wet gravity separation and flotation, three concentrates were obtained; heavy paramagnetic concentrate (monazite, columbite, brass, and jarosite), heavy diamagnetic concentrate (zircon, kasolite, uranothorite, cassiterite, and sulphide minerals) and muscovite concentrate for industrial uses. Physical processing of Abu Rusheid mylonite sample was carried out to produce high grade mineral concentrate used as a raw material for chemical treatment to extract economic elements that necessary for several industries.