Institute of Mining, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Khabarovsk, Russia

L. A. Kienko, Senior Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, kienkola@rambler.ru
O. V. Voronova, Researcher

The mill tailings of fluorite ores from the Far East Region have been estimated for concentration possibility. The volume of mill tailings at Yaroslavskaya mining company is estimated as being more than 30 million tons. The analysis of two samplings has revealed concentrations of fluorite within 13–23% range, calcite – up to 14%, and zinc – in the range of 0.4–0.6%. The studies of elemental composition and washability show that the samples contain 15.2–20.7% of CaF₂, 13.35–10.2% of CaCO₃, and 0.49–0.38% of Zn. Surface layer of mineral grains of the tailings has been mineralogically and technologically examined to choose a particular complex of necessary prior operations which would ensure the material conditioning and further efficient interaction with flotation reagents. Some technical solutions suggested have increased the fluorite concentration productivity; and optimal parameters found for acid-base flotation regime have neutralized negative influence of salts and slimes of previous processing cycle. The use of a mixture of ammonium fluoride and lignosulfonate as a modifier was effective. During processing of sample 1 and sample 2, extraction of fluorite to concentrates with the fluorite content of 92.2–92.8 % constituted more than 52 % and 69 %, respectively. The increased quality of concentrates is accompanied by decreased extraction that is conditioned by the presence of great number of dirty grains transpierced by micro inclusions of calcite and silicates. Concentration of sphalerite to a separate product run with low efficiency; extraction of zinc to standard concentrate constituted 38.84%. The inclusion of sulfide flotation in the main scheme will allow increasing the efficiency of fluorite cycle, i.e. extraction of CaF₂ to concentrates of grade FF-92 may grow as high as 70%.

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