Advances in Beneficiation Processes for Low-grade Bastnaesite-associated Fluorite Resources
Fluorite as a strategic resource for preparing fluorine-containing compounds, has been designated as a critical mineral by China, the United States, and the European Union. Its efficient recovery is vital for ensuring resource security. In China, bastnaesite type fluorite resources are primarily for...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | zho |
| Published: |
Institute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Kuangchan zonghe liyong |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.kczhly.com/en/article/doi/10.12476/kczhly.202409140262 |
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| Summary: | Fluorite as a strategic resource for preparing fluorine-containing compounds, has been designated as a critical mineral by China, the United States, and the European Union. Its efficient recovery is vital for ensuring resource security. In China, bastnaesite type fluorite resources are primarily formed in rare earth deposits such as the Bayan Obo and Maoniuping regions, characterized by "low-grade, fine-grained dissemination, and complex mineral paragenesis". Traditional separation technologies face challenges due to the similar floatability of rare earth minerals and fluorite, as well as the poor selectivity of conventional reagents. This paper systematically reviews the resource distribution and process mineralogical characteristics of bastnaesite-type fluorite, with a focus on advancements in beneficiation technologies: (1) Development of novel inhibitors (CMK-2, DC-2) and collectors (MQY, CXS-211) has enabled efficient separation of fluorite from barite and calcite, achieving concentrate grade improvement to 90.8%; (2) In the innovative "magnetic-flotation-leaching" integrated process such as Bayan Obo "weak magnetic iron removal - rare earth flotation - fluorite selection" process, the fluorite recovery rate has reached 72.5%; (3) A collaborative recovery model of "flotation and desulfuration - mixed flotation - magnetic separation" for rare earth tailings was proposed, achieving fluorite recovery rate up to 50.0% from continental geosyncline tailings. Industrial practices demonstrate that targeted separation and process intensification significantly enhance resource utilization efficiency. Future efforts should prioritize green pathways such as short-process low-temperature separation and tailings for building materials, to advance bastnaesite type fluorite resource utilization toward a "near-zero waste" objective. |
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| ISSN: | 1000-6532 |