The role of process mineralogy in mineral beneficiation

Economic feasibility of mineral beneficiation or ore extraction depends on a number of factors amongst which process mineralogy plays a significant role. Mineralogy influences comminution required to liberate the desired mineral. Physical property contrast between ore and gangue minerals influence process selection. Ore texture affects recovery. Rheological properties of the minerals in aqueous medium and the probable ionic composition of the slurry or leach liquor can be fairly predicted from mineralogy. The effect of mineralogy in mineral beneficiation and ore extraction with special reference to atomic minerals is discussed. Some typical case studies on mineral deposits hosting atomic and other minerals are presented and process flow-sheets are discussed keeping economics, by-product recovery and mineral conservation in perspective. These include the sandstone type uranium deposit of Domiasiat, Meghalaya, uranium deposits of Singhbhum Shear Zone, carbonatites of Sung Valley, Meghalaya and the cassiterite and columbite-tantalite bearing pegmatites of Bastar, Madhya Pradesh. It is also pointed out that process mineralogy bridges the gap between the mining geologist and the metallurgist and helps in obtaining maximum recovery of metallic or non-metallic minerals, from a given deposit. (author)