Investigation of recovery possibilities of rutile minerals from the feldspar tailings with gravity separation methods

Abstract

In feldspar processing, flotation beneficiation tailings that containing high ratio of titanium minerals emerge at a considerable amount as a result of beneficiation of feldspar reserves with high TiO2 content due to required specifications by global feldspar market. Recovery of titanium minerals from these tailings which can be evaluated as alternative TiO2 resources is an important research topic as they have an important economic potential in terms of unexploited values. Within the scope of this study tailing samples have been taken from a privately owned flotation facility which is operating in Mugla Turkey in order to characterization and investigation of recovery possibilities of titanium minerals from feldspar tailings. Physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization studies and laboratory scaled beneficiation tests with gravity methods have been conducted on these samples. Effects of some parameters on efficiency of beneficiation have been investigated within the scope of beneficiation tests carried out with shaking table and multi gravity separator. As a result of characterization studies, it was determined that feed sample contains TiO2 at the rate of 1.90% and TiO2 content is associated to rutile mineral to a large extent. As a result of beneficiation tests; a concentrate that containing 11.26% TiO2 with a 50.43% rate of recovery were obtained in the shaking table tests and a concentrate that containing 17.11% TiO2 with a 89.33% rate of recovery were obtained in the MGS tests by using optimum conditions. In consideration of results obtained it is presented that gravity methods are able to be used as method of a pre-beneficiation in the recovery of titanium minerals from feldspar tailings.