Study on the whole-grain magnetic–float combination beneficiation process of high mud lithium mica

The South China region is abundant in high mud lithium mica resources, which are characterized by their complex mineral composition and high fine mud content. These properties present significant challenges for flotation separation, resulting in low resource utilization rates. Geochemical studies ha...

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Main Authors: Rongrui WANG, Yongbiao CHENG, Junhao FU, Haisheng HAN, Jie DING, Jianhua KANG, Yong LI
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Science Press 2025-04-01
Series:工程科学学报
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Online Access:http://cje.ustb.edu.cn/article/doi/10.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2024.05.22.003
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author Rongrui WANG
Yongbiao CHENG
Junhao FU
Haisheng HAN
Jie DING
Jianhua KANG
Yong LI
author_facet Rongrui WANG
Yongbiao CHENG
Junhao FU
Haisheng HAN
Jie DING
Jianhua KANG
Yong LI
author_sort Rongrui WANG
collection DOAJ
description The South China region is abundant in high mud lithium mica resources, which are characterized by their complex mineral composition and high fine mud content. These properties present significant challenges for flotation separation, resulting in low resource utilization rates. Geochemical studies have identified an evolutionary trend of lithium mica: Biotite evolving into Ferrimuscovite, then Zinnwaldite, Trilithionite, and finally Lithium mica. During this evolution, some lithium mica acquires weak magnetic properties owing to iron content, making it suitable for superconducting magnetic separation technology. This technology offers high magnetic field strength and low particle size limitations, offering great application prospects. This paper addresses the high mud lithium mica resource at Jiepailing, Hunan Province. The main lithium-bearing minerals in this ore are iron-bearing lithium mica, constituting 21.43% of the ore. Owing to the fine size of these target minerals, fine grinding is essential to increase monomer dissociation before beneficiation. The ore contains kaolinite and other vein minerals, which are easy to be muddied after grinding, making the amount of fine mud greatly increase. Additionally, the ore contains high amounts of fluorite, which negatively affects the flotation process for lithium mica concentration. The presence of high fluorite and fine mud content limits the efficacy of conventional flotation methods. Furthermore, the weak magnetic properties of certain lithium mica minerals pose challenges for conventional high-gradient magnetic separation techniques. Therefore, a new combined magnetic–flotation sorting process has been developed based on the ore characteristics. Stronger magnetic zinnwaldite is preferentially separated and enriched through high-gradient magnetic separation. Subsequent secondary grinding allows for another round of magnetic separation to obtain high-grade concentrate. Weakly magnetic lithium mica is pre-enriched by flotation, reducing throughput after impurity removal. Finally, the flotation concentrate and fine sludge are separated and enriched using superconducting technology. This process finally causes “high-gradient magnetic separation—fluorite removal flotation—lithium mica flotation—superconducting magnetic separation” of the whole particle size beneficiation. Experimental results have shown that microfine-grained lithium mica, which cannot be effectively separated by conventional magnetic separation or flotation methods, can a Li2O grade increase from 0.52% to 1.86% using superconducting magnetic separation technology. This greatly improves the ore utilization rate. Under full process experimentation, raw ore with a 0.76% Li2O grade yielded a comprehensive lithium mica concentrate with a 2.22% Li2O grade and a 77.62% recovery rate. The new process bypasses the shortcomings of conventional separation methods through the organic combination of high-gradient magnetic separation, superconducting magnetic separation, and flotation technology, achieving efficient extraction of high mud lithium mica in full grain sizes. This research provides a reference for the efficient development and utilization of complex lithium mica ores.
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spelling doaj-art-4ed7738e22a147a6bf95aea6a093c44b2025-08-20T02:11:57ZzhoScience Press工程科学学报2095-93892025-04-0147464265310.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2024.05.22.003240522-0003Study on the whole-grain magnetic–float combination beneficiation process of high mud lithium micaRongrui WANG0Yongbiao CHENG1Junhao FU2Haisheng HAN3Jie DING4Jianhua KANG5Yong LI6School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSchool of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSchool of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSchool of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSinochem Lantian Co., Ltd., Chenzhou 423000, ChinaSchool of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSchool of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaThe South China region is abundant in high mud lithium mica resources, which are characterized by their complex mineral composition and high fine mud content. These properties present significant challenges for flotation separation, resulting in low resource utilization rates. Geochemical studies have identified an evolutionary trend of lithium mica: Biotite evolving into Ferrimuscovite, then Zinnwaldite, Trilithionite, and finally Lithium mica. During this evolution, some lithium mica acquires weak magnetic properties owing to iron content, making it suitable for superconducting magnetic separation technology. This technology offers high magnetic field strength and low particle size limitations, offering great application prospects. This paper addresses the high mud lithium mica resource at Jiepailing, Hunan Province. The main lithium-bearing minerals in this ore are iron-bearing lithium mica, constituting 21.43% of the ore. Owing to the fine size of these target minerals, fine grinding is essential to increase monomer dissociation before beneficiation. The ore contains kaolinite and other vein minerals, which are easy to be muddied after grinding, making the amount of fine mud greatly increase. Additionally, the ore contains high amounts of fluorite, which negatively affects the flotation process for lithium mica concentration. The presence of high fluorite and fine mud content limits the efficacy of conventional flotation methods. Furthermore, the weak magnetic properties of certain lithium mica minerals pose challenges for conventional high-gradient magnetic separation techniques. Therefore, a new combined magnetic–flotation sorting process has been developed based on the ore characteristics. Stronger magnetic zinnwaldite is preferentially separated and enriched through high-gradient magnetic separation. Subsequent secondary grinding allows for another round of magnetic separation to obtain high-grade concentrate. Weakly magnetic lithium mica is pre-enriched by flotation, reducing throughput after impurity removal. Finally, the flotation concentrate and fine sludge are separated and enriched using superconducting technology. This process finally causes “high-gradient magnetic separation—fluorite removal flotation—lithium mica flotation—superconducting magnetic separation” of the whole particle size beneficiation. Experimental results have shown that microfine-grained lithium mica, which cannot be effectively separated by conventional magnetic separation or flotation methods, can a Li2O grade increase from 0.52% to 1.86% using superconducting magnetic separation technology. This greatly improves the ore utilization rate. Under full process experimentation, raw ore with a 0.76% Li2O grade yielded a comprehensive lithium mica concentrate with a 2.22% Li2O grade and a 77.62% recovery rate. The new process bypasses the shortcomings of conventional separation methods through the organic combination of high-gradient magnetic separation, superconducting magnetic separation, and flotation technology, achieving efficient extraction of high mud lithium mica in full grain sizes. This research provides a reference for the efficient development and utilization of complex lithium mica ores.http://cje.ustb.edu.cn/article/doi/10.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2024.05.22.003siltlithium micasuperconducting magnetic separationwhole grainmagnetic-flotation separation
spellingShingle Rongrui WANG
Yongbiao CHENG
Junhao FU
Haisheng HAN
Jie DING
Jianhua KANG
Yong LI
Study on the whole-grain magnetic–float combination beneficiation process of high mud lithium mica
工程科学学报
silt
lithium mica
superconducting magnetic separation
whole grain
magnetic-flotation separation
title Study on the whole-grain magnetic–float combination beneficiation process of high mud lithium mica
title_full Study on the whole-grain magnetic–float combination beneficiation process of high mud lithium mica
title_fullStr Study on the whole-grain magnetic–float combination beneficiation process of high mud lithium mica
title_full_unstemmed Study on the whole-grain magnetic–float combination beneficiation process of high mud lithium mica
title_short Study on the whole-grain magnetic–float combination beneficiation process of high mud lithium mica
title_sort study on the whole grain magnetic float combination beneficiation process of high mud lithium mica
topic silt
lithium mica
superconducting magnetic separation
whole grain
magnetic-flotation separation
url http://cje.ustb.edu.cn/article/doi/10.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2024.05.22.003
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