Allen, M. A.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The study on the beneficiation of Ishiagu ore was
effectively carried out. The samples obtained in lumps were crushed and
pulverized using laboratory jaw crusher and grinding machines. The pulverized
sample was characterized to determine its chemical and mineralogical
compositions, liberation size and beneficiated to metallurgical grade, using
the froth flotation method. The
mineralogical analysis using X-ray diffraction technique revealed the presence
of galena, marcasite, quartz, sphalerite, thorianite and tugarinorite. Further examination of the ore by AAS
revealed the presence of 31.75% Pb, 0.93% Zn, 0.5250 %Cu, 0.1650%Mn, 0.0702%Mg
0.0202% Ca, 9.2300% Fe and 0.0056% Ni.
The liberation size was determined to be 63 µm. The froth flotation experiment was conducted
using three sieve sizes, ranging from 125 to 90 and 63µm. The XRF results
showed that 63µm concentrate produced, contained
68.013% Pb, compared to other sieve sizes. The results, indicated that 63µm is
the optimum liberation size for Ishiagu ore. The ore (galena) finds
applications in manufacturing industry such as lead batteries, solder, TV
tubes, glass, construction, communications, ballast/weights electronics,
ammunition and protective coatings, X-rays and gamma radiation shielding where
reliability is of topmost consideration.
Keywords: Characterized, compositions, liberation, beneficiated, froth flotation
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Published
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 2, DEC 2018
Article Section
GENERAL
The contents of the articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and not of UJET.
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