Mining Institute, Kola Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia:

S. V. Tereshchenko, Head of Laboratory, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, tereshchenko@goi.kolasc.net.ru
D. N. Shibaeva, Senior Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

The paper shows the application prospects for the preliminary ore concentration technology in the conditions of quality degradation of minerals. The technology is based on partial removal gangue and rocks with poor mineral content at early processing stages. The technology potential is obvious because its introduction creates the conditions for the formation of an adjustable quality ore flow before beneficiation. The paper formulates the theoretical statements to allow efficiency evaluation of pre-concentration within a beneficiation technology by coarse waste rejection from mined rocks by size-based separation using gravitational, magnetic, or radiometric properties of rocks. To this end, it is necessary: to study distribution of useful components in each size and the contrast index (M) which is a characteristics of uneven distribution of useful components in rocks sent for separation; to identify the content of useful components below the cutoff grade in size grades by calculating the gangue number (N); to analyze jointly the indicators M and N; to study maintainability of the size modulus of bulk material in each separated class at the level of 2.5 arbitrary units toward the justified use of the pre-concentration in a certain mine. The studies on size-based separation of apatite, iron, chromite and loparite ores have demonstrated feasibility of quality improvement in the ore flow to the processing plant by at least 1.3 times, by separating at least 20% of gangue and rocks with low mineral content while maintaining high rates of useful component recovery.

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