VNIIHT (Russia):

Balakina I. G., Leading Researcher

Lavrentyev A. V., Head of Laboratory

National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute) (Russia):

Sarychev G. A., Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, Professor, Head of Chair

Tananaev I. G., Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor

E-mail (common): geokhi@mail.ru

The paper is dedicated to development of approaches to the Zavitinskoye lithium-beryllium deposit dumps preparation for flotation benefication by radiometric X-ray luminescent separation methods and polychromatic photometric sorting. A 1500 kg repesentative sample with –350+0 mm material size was selected from the dumped cut-off grade ore of the Zavitinskoye deposit (the Zavitinskiy pit) with a view to perform the experiments. In order to explore the possibility of lithium maximum recovery and increase of its content in feed, visual hand picking was conducted with separation of spodumene and mica products, as well as barren rock, with their subsequent radiometric sorting by the above-noted methods. The results of the ore average sample fraction composition study (from –50+25 mm size fraction), obtained by radiometric X-ray luminescent separation methods, permit to estimate average content of components (Li₂O — 0.31 %; BeO — 0.024 %; Ta₂O₅ — 0.004 %; Nb₂O₅ — 0.008 %) with uniform distribution of associated valuable components in size fractions with Li₂O separation indicator being close to 0.68 relative unit. It is shown, that in separation of all hand-picking products, Li₂O content in rejected tailings is lower, than in feed product, i. e., favorable re-distribution of Li₂O takes place. In photometric sorting of feed ore sample –20+10 mm size fraction with Li₂О mass fraction of 0.31 %, a concentrate was produced with Li₂О mass fraction of 0.48 %, yield being 31.2 % and recovery ~ 50 % from the sorted size fraction. Li₂О mass fraction in tailings was 0.23 %. Spectral studies of the ore characteristics and dressability by X-ray luminescent method give evidence of a theoretical possibility of concentrate production with Li₂О mass fraction of 0.55–0.60 %, yield being 38–45 % and recovery of 74–80 %.

The authors are indebted to Yu. M. Trubakov, V. Yu. Koltsov, P. Yu. Novikov, G. A. Baryshev, A. P. Biryukov, I. V. Kuznetsov and A. I. Maksimkin for their participation in the experimental studies and discussions of the obtained results.
The studies were performed in the framework of the Applied Scientific Research Programme, UIPNI RFMEFI57814X0050.

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