Feasibility Study of Khushoomi Uranium Ore Concentration with Magnetic and Electrostatic Methods

Magnetic and electrostatic properties of minerals are the important characterizations used in mineral processing technology for concentration of minerals. Mineralogy and degree of liberation of the ore with a uranium average content of 1540 ppm, has been studied by XRD and microscopic methods. Major minerals such as alkali feldspar (Orthoclase), plagioclase (Albite), biotite, chlorite, carbonate and minor minerals such as sphene, zircon, actinolite, tremolite, pitchblende and betafite have been identified in this ore. Additionally, the degree of liberation of orthoclase, albite, biotite and uranium minerals was determined 320, 290, 190 and 110 microns respectively. Based on the results of mineralogy and degree of liberation studies, magnetic and electrostatic tests have been performed on fractions: -420+250, -250+125 and -125+74 microns. High intensity magnetic tests in two ways, wet and dry separations were done by HIMS separator and plate separator. Analyses of magnetic test results showed that the separation has low recovery. Recovery for dry and wet methods was 45.03 and 26.99% respectively. Analyses of electrostatic test results showed that the maximum recovery of these tests is 51.36% uranium and in this state 27.63% uranium in 42.02 weight percent of feed is rejected. Generally, the recovery of these separations was low, so these methods are not suitable for concentration of this ore.