Application of gravity separators for enrichment of South Chah-Palang tungsten ore

Abstract

In the present study, the possibility of concentrating tungsten-copper vein ore in South Chah-Palang was examined using gravity separators including Jig Machine (-2360+600 μm), shaking table (-600+120 μm), and multi-gravity separator (MGS) (-120 μm). The representative sample contains 1.5% WO3 and 5.95% CuO. The main tungsten minerals were ferberite and wolframite and their appropriate liberation degree was approximately in the range of 250 μm. Box-Behenken and CCD response surface methods were applied to model and optimize jig machine and MGS results, respectively. Shaking table performance was modeled by full factorial design method. In Jig machine tests, the effects of water flow rate, frequency and feed particle size were investigated. Deck inclination, wash water, and feed water flow rate were operational parameters in shaking table. In the MGS testes, the effects of two parameters of tilt angle and wash water flow rate were inspected. In this set of experiments, WO3 recovery and grade were considered as responses of each model. The maximum recovery of WO3 in jig machine was obtained in water flow rate of 3.71 lit/min, frequency of 153rpm, and the particle size range of -2360+1700 μm. In this case, the grade and recovery of WO3 were 2.85% and 94.33%, respectively. The maximum WO3 recovery was 93.9% with grade of 8.20 % using shaking table in the deck inclination of 11 degree, feed water flow rate of 7 lit/min, and wash water flow rate of 8 lit/min. The maximum WO3 recovery in MGS attained with 3.45 degrees tilt angle and wash water rate of 3.16 lit/min. The grade and recovery of WO3 in the MGS method were 4.2% and 90.61%, respectively.