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: Wei YANG, Hongqi TAN, Xiaohong XIA, Zhiyuan XIE, Yingjiang ZHU, Qiang GONG, Yue HU
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Institute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences 2025-08-01
Series:Kuangchan zonghe liyong
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Online Access:http://www.kczhly.com/en/article/doi/10.12476/kczhly.202409140262
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author Wei YANG
Hongqi TAN
Xiaohong XIA
Zhiyuan XIE
Yingjiang ZHU
Qiang GONG
Yue HU
author_facet Wei YANG
Hongqi TAN
Xiaohong XIA
Zhiyuan XIE
Yingjiang ZHU
Qiang GONG
Yue HU
author_sort Wei YANG
collection DOAJ
description 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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institution Kabale University
issn 1000-6532
language zho
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Institute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
record_format Article
series Kuangchan zonghe liyong
spelling doaj-art-0f959a3a4bf74a85b47cdd72e27379702025-08-25T08:13:18ZzhoInstitute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological SciencesKuangchan zonghe liyong1000-65322025-08-01464576410.12476/kczhly.2024091402622025-04yangweiAdvances in Beneficiation Processes for Low-grade Bastnaesite-associated Fluorite ResourcesWei YANG0Hongqi TAN1Xiaohong XIA2Zhiyuan XIE3Yingjiang ZHU4Qiang GONG5Yue HU6Sichuan Geological and Mineral Resources Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan 610016, ChinaSichuan Geological and Mineral Resources Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan 610016, ChinaSichuan Geological and Mineral Resources Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan 610016, ChinaSichuan Geological and Mineral Resources Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan 610016, ChinaSichuan Hedi Mining Development Co., Ltd., Liangshan, Sichuan 615500, ChinaSichuan Geological and Mineral Resources Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan 610016, ChinaSichuan Geological and Mineral Resources Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan 610016, ChinaFluorite 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.http://www.kczhly.com/en/article/doi/10.12476/kczhly.202409140262bastnaesitelow-gradefluoriteresource utilizationlow-grade
spellingShingle Wei YANG
Hongqi TAN
Xiaohong XIA
Zhiyuan XIE
Yingjiang ZHU
Qiang GONG
Yue HU
Advances in Beneficiation Processes for Low-grade Bastnaesite-associated Fluorite Resources
Kuangchan zonghe liyong
bastnaesite
low-grade
fluorite
resource utilization
low-grade
title Advances in Beneficiation Processes for Low-grade Bastnaesite-associated Fluorite Resources
title_full Advances in Beneficiation Processes for Low-grade Bastnaesite-associated Fluorite Resources
title_fullStr Advances in Beneficiation Processes for Low-grade Bastnaesite-associated Fluorite Resources
title_full_unstemmed Advances in Beneficiation Processes for Low-grade Bastnaesite-associated Fluorite Resources
title_short Advances in Beneficiation Processes for Low-grade Bastnaesite-associated Fluorite Resources
title_sort advances in beneficiation processes for low grade bastnaesite associated fluorite resources
topic bastnaesite
low-grade
fluorite
resource utilization
low-grade
url http://www.kczhly.com/en/article/doi/10.12476/kczhly.202409140262
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