CA3214482A1 - Mineral separation process - Google Patents
Mineral separation process Download PDFInfo
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- CA3214482A1 CA3214482A1 CA3214482A CA3214482A CA3214482A1 CA 3214482 A1 CA3214482 A1 CA 3214482A1 CA 3214482 A CA3214482 A CA 3214482A CA 3214482 A CA3214482 A CA 3214482A CA 3214482 A1 CA3214482 A1 CA 3214482A1
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- lithium
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
- B03C—MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
- B03C1/00—Magnetic separation
- B03C1/02—Magnetic separation acting directly on the substance being separated
- B03C1/025—High gradient magnetic separators
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
- B03C—MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
- B03C1/00—Magnetic separation
- B03C1/02—Magnetic separation acting directly on the substance being separated
- B03C1/30—Combinations with other devices, not otherwise provided for
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
- B03C—MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
- B03C2201/00—Details of magnetic or electrostatic separation
- B03C2201/18—Magnetic separation whereby the particles are suspended in a liquid
Abstract
The present invention relates to a selective wet magnetic separation process for efficiently beneficiating (separating and concentrating) paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a milled feed stream comprising weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and gangue. The process comprises feeding (A.) a milled feed stream comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals into a sequence of Low Intensity Magnetic Separators (B.) and Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separators (2., 3., 4.), preferably Vertical Pulsating Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separators and obtaining a product stream comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals (H.), and a waste stream containing highly magnetic waste materials (C.) and waste streams containing nonmagnetic gangue (E., G., I.) therefrom.
Description
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 MINERAL SEPARATION PROCESS
The present invention relates to a selective wet magnetic separation process for beneficiation (separating and concentrating) of weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a milled feed stream containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, highly magnetic ferrous waste and nonmagnetic gangue, using a sequence of wet magnetic separators, such as Low Intensity Magnetic Separators ("LI MS"), Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separators ("WHGMS") and Vertical Pulsating Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separators ("VPWHGMS") to obtain concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals therefrom suitable for further processing to extract the lithium. The present invention also relates to a magnetic separation apparatus for beneficiation of weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a milled feed stream containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, highly magnetic ferrous waste and nonmagnetic gangue. The process of the present invention can be used to achieve >90%
recovery of weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals to a concentrate.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Beneficiation is used in the mining and allied industry to improve the economic value of a mineral ore feed by removing "gangue" minerals (worthless or low-value contaminants) to provide a higher grade or concentrated valuable product. Beneficiation can however be a wasteful process in terms of both energy and chemicals, and provide low recovery of the valuable product. Beneficiation processes typically use high energy milling, chemical surfactants and other agents to improve mineral concentration. Physical means of beneficiating ores can also be used to extract different materials to discrete process streams based on their contrast in physical characteristics such as for example colour, radiometric, magnetic or electrostatic susceptibility, density, shape or particle size. For example, magnetic separation can be used "indirectly" to remove magnetic contaminants from the desired mineral ore, or to "directly" remove a magnetic target mineral from nonmagnetic contaminants.
Wet milling is required to liberate or separate the desired minerals (such as lithium-mica or lithium-spodumene) from gangue.
Various beneficiation processes can be used on wet, milled feed in combination to achieve a desired beneficiation efficiency or purity. For example, pegmatites and spodumene hosted AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 lithium deposits (which are currently the world's largest source of lithium) have been known to be beneficiated using dense media separation plus chemical froth floatation technologies as a precursor to extracting the lithium from the spodumene. Floatation technologies require the use of costly consumable surfactants such as fatty acids which may be harmful to the environment and can require remediation. One of the key parameters in floatation is the particle size distribution of the feed and it has been shown in several studies that the optimal size range for floatation is relatively narrow, approximately 20 p.m to 150 p.m which requires energy intensive milling of the ore, and which can also generate fine particles which cannot be economically recovered. Froth floatation is widely used; however it has been found that spodumene producers typically recover only 60% to 70% of the desired spodumene content of the ore, meaning that 30% to 40% of the lithium is lost through process wastes.
Furthermore, beneficiation processes for spodumene are complex and typically involve multiple stages of crushing, grinding, hydraulic sorting, attrition scrubbing, conditioning, multi- stage chemical floatation plus dense media separation. This is time consuming, costly, labour intensive and the complexity can lead to low overall plant availability and mass recovery. Moreover, the use of acidic reagents for floatation can create hazardous acidic tailings.
Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium inosilicate LiAl(SiO3)2, is not magnetic or paramagnetic, and so cannot be separated from gangue minerals and concentrated by magnetic separation. Magnetic separation has been known to be used to indirectly concentrate spodumene by removing minor magnetic contaminants from spodumene ores, but not to directly concentrate the spodumene.
Extensive potentially economic deposits of lithium also occur in lithium-mica minerals within granites in Europe and elsewhere, which also contain gangue minerals, principally quartz and feldspar. However, lithium has never been extracted commercially from lithium-mica and so to exploit these deposits commercially there is a need to develop an environmentally sustainable and economic method for separation and concentration of the lithium-mica minerals from gangue minerals as a precursor to extracting the lithium from the mica.
Micas are chemically the most variable mineral group among all rock-forming minerals. Not all mica minerals contain lithium, but those that do can also, but not always, contain iron
The present invention relates to a selective wet magnetic separation process for beneficiation (separating and concentrating) of weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a milled feed stream containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, highly magnetic ferrous waste and nonmagnetic gangue, using a sequence of wet magnetic separators, such as Low Intensity Magnetic Separators ("LI MS"), Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separators ("WHGMS") and Vertical Pulsating Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separators ("VPWHGMS") to obtain concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals therefrom suitable for further processing to extract the lithium. The present invention also relates to a magnetic separation apparatus for beneficiation of weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a milled feed stream containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, highly magnetic ferrous waste and nonmagnetic gangue. The process of the present invention can be used to achieve >90%
recovery of weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals to a concentrate.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Beneficiation is used in the mining and allied industry to improve the economic value of a mineral ore feed by removing "gangue" minerals (worthless or low-value contaminants) to provide a higher grade or concentrated valuable product. Beneficiation can however be a wasteful process in terms of both energy and chemicals, and provide low recovery of the valuable product. Beneficiation processes typically use high energy milling, chemical surfactants and other agents to improve mineral concentration. Physical means of beneficiating ores can also be used to extract different materials to discrete process streams based on their contrast in physical characteristics such as for example colour, radiometric, magnetic or electrostatic susceptibility, density, shape or particle size. For example, magnetic separation can be used "indirectly" to remove magnetic contaminants from the desired mineral ore, or to "directly" remove a magnetic target mineral from nonmagnetic contaminants.
Wet milling is required to liberate or separate the desired minerals (such as lithium-mica or lithium-spodumene) from gangue.
Various beneficiation processes can be used on wet, milled feed in combination to achieve a desired beneficiation efficiency or purity. For example, pegmatites and spodumene hosted AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 lithium deposits (which are currently the world's largest source of lithium) have been known to be beneficiated using dense media separation plus chemical froth floatation technologies as a precursor to extracting the lithium from the spodumene. Floatation technologies require the use of costly consumable surfactants such as fatty acids which may be harmful to the environment and can require remediation. One of the key parameters in floatation is the particle size distribution of the feed and it has been shown in several studies that the optimal size range for floatation is relatively narrow, approximately 20 p.m to 150 p.m which requires energy intensive milling of the ore, and which can also generate fine particles which cannot be economically recovered. Froth floatation is widely used; however it has been found that spodumene producers typically recover only 60% to 70% of the desired spodumene content of the ore, meaning that 30% to 40% of the lithium is lost through process wastes.
Furthermore, beneficiation processes for spodumene are complex and typically involve multiple stages of crushing, grinding, hydraulic sorting, attrition scrubbing, conditioning, multi- stage chemical floatation plus dense media separation. This is time consuming, costly, labour intensive and the complexity can lead to low overall plant availability and mass recovery. Moreover, the use of acidic reagents for floatation can create hazardous acidic tailings.
Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium inosilicate LiAl(SiO3)2, is not magnetic or paramagnetic, and so cannot be separated from gangue minerals and concentrated by magnetic separation. Magnetic separation has been known to be used to indirectly concentrate spodumene by removing minor magnetic contaminants from spodumene ores, but not to directly concentrate the spodumene.
Extensive potentially economic deposits of lithium also occur in lithium-mica minerals within granites in Europe and elsewhere, which also contain gangue minerals, principally quartz and feldspar. However, lithium has never been extracted commercially from lithium-mica and so to exploit these deposits commercially there is a need to develop an environmentally sustainable and economic method for separation and concentration of the lithium-mica minerals from gangue minerals as a precursor to extracting the lithium from the mica.
Micas are chemically the most variable mineral group among all rock-forming minerals. Not all mica minerals contain lithium, but those that do can also, but not always, contain iron
2 AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 within their crystal matrix or as impurities in the form of sub-microscopic inclusions of iron oxides, which makes them very weakly magnetic or paramagnetic.
Lithium-mica minerals such as zinnwaldite KLiFeAl(AlSi3)010(OH,F)2 (potassium lithium iron aluminium silicate hydroxide fluoride) and polylithionite KL11.7N1a0.3A1S14010F(OH) are more complex minerals than spodumene LiAl(Si206) (lithium aluminium inosilicate) and contain less lithium. Pure zinnwaldite for example contains eight elements with lithium accounting for only 1.59% of the mineral's mass, whereas spodumene contains only four elements of which lithium accounts for 3.73% of the pure mineral's mass.
Given the very high energy cost of drying milled feed before dry magnetic separation, there is a need for an efficient beneficiation process using wet magnetic separation instead of dry magnetic separation.
Given the very low contrast in magnetic susceptibility of weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica and gangue, single-stage wet magnetic separation cannot sufficiently recover or concentrate the lithium-mica and so there is a need for an improved method of multi-stage wet magnetic separation with recycle streams to obtain acceptable recovery and concentrate grade.
Given lithium-mica minerals' disadvantages of lower grade and higher mineral complexity compared to spodumene there is a need for a beneficiation process for lithium-mica minerals with improved mineral recovery efficiency, with fewer processing steps, improved specificity for a particular ore, at lower cost and lower environmental impact. There is also a need for a beneficiation process that does not require the use of environmentally damaging chemical reagents or processes.
Alternative technology is the direct flotation of lithium-mica using fatty acid reagents. This involves adding acid to reduce the pH, resulting in acidic waste and produces low recovery to a concentrate.
The major sources of commercially mined lithium are from brine solutions (principally in South America) and spodumene containing ores (principally in Western Australia). To date, there has been no commercial production of lithium from lithium-mica granite ores or concentrates.
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 within their crystal matrix or as impurities in the form of sub-microscopic inclusions of iron oxides, which makes them very weakly magnetic or paramagnetic.
Lithium-mica minerals such as zinnwaldite KLiFeAl(AlSi3)010(OH,F)2 (potassium lithium iron aluminium silicate hydroxide fluoride) and polylithionite KL11.7N1a0.3A1S14010F(OH) are more complex minerals than spodumene LiAl(Si206) (lithium aluminium inosilicate) and contain less lithium. Pure zinnwaldite for example contains eight elements with lithium accounting for only 1.59% of the mineral's mass, whereas spodumene contains only four elements of which lithium accounts for 3.73% of the pure mineral's mass.
Given the very high energy cost of drying milled feed before dry magnetic separation, there is a need for an efficient beneficiation process using wet magnetic separation instead of dry magnetic separation.
Given the very low contrast in magnetic susceptibility of weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica and gangue, single-stage wet magnetic separation cannot sufficiently recover or concentrate the lithium-mica and so there is a need for an improved method of multi-stage wet magnetic separation with recycle streams to obtain acceptable recovery and concentrate grade.
Given lithium-mica minerals' disadvantages of lower grade and higher mineral complexity compared to spodumene there is a need for a beneficiation process for lithium-mica minerals with improved mineral recovery efficiency, with fewer processing steps, improved specificity for a particular ore, at lower cost and lower environmental impact. There is also a need for a beneficiation process that does not require the use of environmentally damaging chemical reagents or processes.
Alternative technology is the direct flotation of lithium-mica using fatty acid reagents. This involves adding acid to reduce the pH, resulting in acidic waste and produces low recovery to a concentrate.
The major sources of commercially mined lithium are from brine solutions (principally in South America) and spodumene containing ores (principally in Western Australia). To date, there has been no commercial production of lithium from lithium-mica granite ores or concentrates.
3 AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 There have been several efforts to beneficiate lithium-mica minerals in the laboratory.
Importantly, these prior art efforts focussed on nonmagnetic lithium-mica minerals such as lepidolite using gravity or density separation or floatation or on paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals using dry magnetic separation and none of these prior art efforts have involved the proposed sequence of indirect concentration using Low Intensity Magnetic Separation ("LIMS") followed by direct concentration using and Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separation ("WHGMS") or Vertical ring Pulsating Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separation ("VPWHGMS").
Other processes have been described to remove lithium-mica minerals as waste from a valuable mineral, but not to directly concentrate paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals for the purpose of recovering lithium.
From a review of other known methods for the beneficiation of mica minerals, whether or not they are lithium-mica minerals, recovery efficiencies as high as those demonstrated by the invention process are not known in the prior art. Similarly, the paramagnetic properties of many mica materials are unknown and their utility as a means of separation is previously undescribed in academic and patent literature.
The use of magnetic separation of one material from another or the removal of magnetic particles from streams depends upon their motion in response to the magnetic force and to other competing external forces, namely gravitational, inertial, hydrodynamic and centrifugal forces all of which need to be considered when designing an efficient process.
A necessary condition for the successful separation of more strongly magnetic from less strongly magnetic particles in a magnetic field is that the magnetic force acting on more magnetic particles must be greater than the sum of all the competing forces. In one embodiment, the present invention uses vertical fluid flow and pulsation of the slurry to assist the separation of paramagnetic mica minerals.
The granite ore containing lithium-mica may contain low concentrations of ferrous minerals.
Milling ores in preparation for their beneficiation by separating or liberating the different minerals from each other invariably introduces highly magnetic ferrous waste, which may include swarf from crushing and grinding media. Ferrous minerals and swan f have been found to foul high-intensity magnetic separators used to extract and concentrate paramagnetic
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 There have been several efforts to beneficiate lithium-mica minerals in the laboratory.
Importantly, these prior art efforts focussed on nonmagnetic lithium-mica minerals such as lepidolite using gravity or density separation or floatation or on paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals using dry magnetic separation and none of these prior art efforts have involved the proposed sequence of indirect concentration using Low Intensity Magnetic Separation ("LIMS") followed by direct concentration using and Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separation ("WHGMS") or Vertical ring Pulsating Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separation ("VPWHGMS").
Other processes have been described to remove lithium-mica minerals as waste from a valuable mineral, but not to directly concentrate paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals for the purpose of recovering lithium.
From a review of other known methods for the beneficiation of mica minerals, whether or not they are lithium-mica minerals, recovery efficiencies as high as those demonstrated by the invention process are not known in the prior art. Similarly, the paramagnetic properties of many mica materials are unknown and their utility as a means of separation is previously undescribed in academic and patent literature.
The use of magnetic separation of one material from another or the removal of magnetic particles from streams depends upon their motion in response to the magnetic force and to other competing external forces, namely gravitational, inertial, hydrodynamic and centrifugal forces all of which need to be considered when designing an efficient process.
A necessary condition for the successful separation of more strongly magnetic from less strongly magnetic particles in a magnetic field is that the magnetic force acting on more magnetic particles must be greater than the sum of all the competing forces. In one embodiment, the present invention uses vertical fluid flow and pulsation of the slurry to assist the separation of paramagnetic mica minerals.
The granite ore containing lithium-mica may contain low concentrations of ferrous minerals.
Milling ores in preparation for their beneficiation by separating or liberating the different minerals from each other invariably introduces highly magnetic ferrous waste, which may include swarf from crushing and grinding media. Ferrous minerals and swan f have been found to foul high-intensity magnetic separators used to extract and concentrate paramagnetic
4 AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 minerals. The highly magnetic swan f often contains chrome, which has been found to be deleterious to the subsequent process of extracting lithium from lithium-mica minerals.
CN108057513 discloses a method for the extraction of potassium feldspar concentrate and iron lepidolite concentrate from lithium-containing granite pegmatite waste.
The method comprises the steps of: mineral separation and classification; ball-milling screening and classification; gravity separation; and magnetic separation to provide the potassium feldspar concentrate and the iron lepidolite concentrate.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a wet magnetic separation process for efficiently beneficiating (separating and concentrating) paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a milled feed stream containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with both highly magnetic ferrous waste and nonmagnetic gangue, in which the process comprises:
feeding the milled feed stream containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, highly magnetic ferrous waste and nonmagnetic gangue into a Low magnetic field Intensity Magnetic Separator ("LIMS") having a first magnetic field strength to provide a first waste stream comprising highly magnetic waste material, and an indirectly concentrated first product stream comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals together with nonmagnetic gangue;
subsequently feeding the first product stream into a first Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separator ("WHGMS") having a second magnetic field strength that is greater than the first magnetic field strength of the LIMS to provide a second waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue and residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and a second product stream comprising directly concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue when compared to the first product stream, and further comprising one or more of:
feeding the second waste stream into a second WHGMS to recover additional, residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and to provide a third product stream comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 minerals. The highly magnetic swan f often contains chrome, which has been found to be deleterious to the subsequent process of extracting lithium from lithium-mica minerals.
CN108057513 discloses a method for the extraction of potassium feldspar concentrate and iron lepidolite concentrate from lithium-containing granite pegmatite waste.
The method comprises the steps of: mineral separation and classification; ball-milling screening and classification; gravity separation; and magnetic separation to provide the potassium feldspar concentrate and the iron lepidolite concentrate.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a wet magnetic separation process for efficiently beneficiating (separating and concentrating) paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a milled feed stream containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with both highly magnetic ferrous waste and nonmagnetic gangue, in which the process comprises:
feeding the milled feed stream containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, highly magnetic ferrous waste and nonmagnetic gangue into a Low magnetic field Intensity Magnetic Separator ("LIMS") having a first magnetic field strength to provide a first waste stream comprising highly magnetic waste material, and an indirectly concentrated first product stream comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals together with nonmagnetic gangue;
subsequently feeding the first product stream into a first Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separator ("WHGMS") having a second magnetic field strength that is greater than the first magnetic field strength of the LIMS to provide a second waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue and residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and a second product stream comprising directly concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue when compared to the first product stream, and further comprising one or more of:
feeding the second waste stream into a second WHGMS to recover additional, residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and to provide a third product stream comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration
5 AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 of nonmagnetic gangue compared to the second waste stream, and a third waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue; and/or feeding the second product stream, and optionally the third product stream, into a third WHGMS to provide a fourth product stream comprising a further concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals preferably of higher lithium grade when compared to the second product stream and a fourth waste stream of nonmagnetic material;
and/or optionally feeding the fourth waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue and residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals into the second WHGMS to recover additional paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals to the third product stream.
A series of low and high magnetic field strength separations may be used to achieve a high beneficiation mass yield of particular paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and overcome the difficulty of separating materials with very low contrast of magnetic susceptibility.
The process may comprise the use of vertical fluid flow and pulsating slurry feed in combination with the series of low and high magnetic field strength separations to achieve a high beneficiation yield of particular paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals.
The milled feed stream is preferably a slurry.
The LIMS preferably has a first magnetic field strength sufficient to separate the first highly magnetic waste stream, whilst also being insufficient to attract paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals.
The first WHGMS may also be referred to herein as a "Rougher".
The second WHGMS may also be referred to herein as a "Scavenger".
The third WHGMS may also be referred to as a "Cleaner".
The second waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue produced by the Rougher WHGMS
preferably comprises residual or carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with nonmagnetic gangue.
The fourth product stream preferably has an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the second and third product streams. The fourth waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue produced by the Cleaner WHGMS preferably
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 of nonmagnetic gangue compared to the second waste stream, and a third waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue; and/or feeding the second product stream, and optionally the third product stream, into a third WHGMS to provide a fourth product stream comprising a further concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals preferably of higher lithium grade when compared to the second product stream and a fourth waste stream of nonmagnetic material;
and/or optionally feeding the fourth waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue and residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals into the second WHGMS to recover additional paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals to the third product stream.
A series of low and high magnetic field strength separations may be used to achieve a high beneficiation mass yield of particular paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and overcome the difficulty of separating materials with very low contrast of magnetic susceptibility.
The process may comprise the use of vertical fluid flow and pulsating slurry feed in combination with the series of low and high magnetic field strength separations to achieve a high beneficiation yield of particular paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals.
The milled feed stream is preferably a slurry.
The LIMS preferably has a first magnetic field strength sufficient to separate the first highly magnetic waste stream, whilst also being insufficient to attract paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals.
The first WHGMS may also be referred to herein as a "Rougher".
The second WHGMS may also be referred to herein as a "Scavenger".
The third WHGMS may also be referred to as a "Cleaner".
The second waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue produced by the Rougher WHGMS
preferably comprises residual or carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with nonmagnetic gangue.
The fourth product stream preferably has an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the second and third product streams. The fourth waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue produced by the Cleaner WHGMS preferably
6 AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 comprises a low concentration of remaining paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals (for example residual or carry-over paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals) mixed with nonmagnetic gangue which optionally may be recycled to the Scavenger WHGMS for recovery of residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals.
Optionally the fourth waste stream may comprise a decreased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with an increased concentration of nonmagnetic gangue resulting in a lithium concentration below a predetermined minimum amount. The predetermined minimum amount may be selected to correspond to an amount of lithium content that is considered to be uneconomic to use for further extraction in which case the fourth waste stream may be considered the final waste stream and no further beneficiation is required.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for the wet magnetic separation of wet milled paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a feed stream containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with highly magnetic ferrous waste and nonmagnetic gangue, the apparatus comprising:
a slurry feed source comprising milled weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with nonmagnetic gangue and highly magnetic ferrous waste materials;
a LIMS having a first magnetic field strength, the LIMS being configured to receive the slurry feed source, and further comprising a first waste outlet configured to provide a first highly magnetic waste stream, and a first product outlet configured to provide a first product stream comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals together with nonmagnetic gangue;
a Rougher WHGMS having a second magnetic field strength, the Rougher WHGMS
being configured to receive the first product stream from the LIMS, and further comprising a second waste outlet configured to provide a second waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue and residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and a second product outlet configured to provide a second product stream comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue when compared to the first product stream,
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 comprises a low concentration of remaining paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals (for example residual or carry-over paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals) mixed with nonmagnetic gangue which optionally may be recycled to the Scavenger WHGMS for recovery of residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals.
Optionally the fourth waste stream may comprise a decreased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with an increased concentration of nonmagnetic gangue resulting in a lithium concentration below a predetermined minimum amount. The predetermined minimum amount may be selected to correspond to an amount of lithium content that is considered to be uneconomic to use for further extraction in which case the fourth waste stream may be considered the final waste stream and no further beneficiation is required.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for the wet magnetic separation of wet milled paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a feed stream containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with highly magnetic ferrous waste and nonmagnetic gangue, the apparatus comprising:
a slurry feed source comprising milled weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with nonmagnetic gangue and highly magnetic ferrous waste materials;
a LIMS having a first magnetic field strength, the LIMS being configured to receive the slurry feed source, and further comprising a first waste outlet configured to provide a first highly magnetic waste stream, and a first product outlet configured to provide a first product stream comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals together with nonmagnetic gangue;
a Rougher WHGMS having a second magnetic field strength, the Rougher WHGMS
being configured to receive the first product stream from the LIMS, and further comprising a second waste outlet configured to provide a second waste stream comprising nonmagnetic gangue and residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and a second product outlet configured to provide a second product stream comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue when compared to the first product stream,
7 AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 in which the second magnetic field strength is greater than the first magnetic field strength, and one or more of:
a Scavenger WHGMS operable to receive the second waste stream from the Rougher WHGMS, and in which the Scavenger WHGMS further comprises a third product outlet configured to provide a third product stream comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue compared to the second waste stream; and/or a Cleaner WHGMS operable to receive the second product stream from the Rougher WHGMS, and/or the third product stream from the Scavenger WHGMS, to provide a fourth product stream comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the second and third product streams, and a fourth waste stream which optionally may be recycled to the Scavenger WHGMS for recovery of residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals.
Optionally the fourth waste stream may comprise a decreased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with an increased concentration of nonmagnetic gangue resulting in a lithium concentration below a predetermined minimum amount. The predetermined minimum amount may be selected to correspond to an amount of lithium content that is considered to be uneconomic to use for further extraction in which case the fourth waste stream can be considered the final waste stream and no further beneficiation is required The term "milled" is used to refer to the solid materials having reduced particle size, to separate or liberate different minerals from each other, by processes including crushing, grinding and classification or optionally scrubbing and classification.
Size classification of the particles is required to ensure the bulk of the material feed is of a size suitable for magnetic separation. Preferably the feed stream has a maximum particle size of 1-3 mm. Preferably, the feed stream has a minimum particle size in the range of between 10 p.m and 50 p.m.
The wet magnetic separation process may further comprise desliming the milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, preferably by use of a hydrocyclone to
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 in which the second magnetic field strength is greater than the first magnetic field strength, and one or more of:
a Scavenger WHGMS operable to receive the second waste stream from the Rougher WHGMS, and in which the Scavenger WHGMS further comprises a third product outlet configured to provide a third product stream comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue compared to the second waste stream; and/or a Cleaner WHGMS operable to receive the second product stream from the Rougher WHGMS, and/or the third product stream from the Scavenger WHGMS, to provide a fourth product stream comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the second and third product streams, and a fourth waste stream which optionally may be recycled to the Scavenger WHGMS for recovery of residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals.
Optionally the fourth waste stream may comprise a decreased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with an increased concentration of nonmagnetic gangue resulting in a lithium concentration below a predetermined minimum amount. The predetermined minimum amount may be selected to correspond to an amount of lithium content that is considered to be uneconomic to use for further extraction in which case the fourth waste stream can be considered the final waste stream and no further beneficiation is required The term "milled" is used to refer to the solid materials having reduced particle size, to separate or liberate different minerals from each other, by processes including crushing, grinding and classification or optionally scrubbing and classification.
Size classification of the particles is required to ensure the bulk of the material feed is of a size suitable for magnetic separation. Preferably the feed stream has a maximum particle size of 1-3 mm. Preferably, the feed stream has a minimum particle size in the range of between 10 p.m and 50 p.m.
The wet magnetic separation process may further comprise desliming the milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, preferably by use of a hydrocyclone to
8 AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 provide a deslimed, milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals comprising particles having an average particle size (d50) greater than 10 p.m, preferably greater than 20 p.m, preferably greater than 50 p.m. Desliming the milled feed stream to remove ultrafine particles (that are not readily separated by magnetic separation or by other beneficiation means) with an average particle size (d50) of 10 p.m or less, preferably 20 pm or less, preferably 50 p.m or less reduces the feed mass by between 10% and 25%
while losing to waste less than 5% to 10% of the contained paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and increasing the pulp density.
The feed stream or feed source may comprise a plurality of feed stream fractions. Each feed stream fraction may comprise a milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals comprising particles having a maximum particles size within a predetermined maximum particle size range. The feed stream or feed source may comprise a plurality of feed stream fractions, in which one or more, preferably each feed stream fraction, comprises particles within a different predetermined maximum particle size range. The predetermined maximum particle size range within one feed stream fraction may overlap with the predetermined maximum particle size range of one or more other feed stream fractions. The predetermined maximum particle size range within one feed stream fraction may be distinct from the predetermined maximum particle size range of one or more other feed stream fractions.
The process may comprise feeding each feed stream fraction or a combination of one or more feed stream fractions into a WHGMS and obtaining a paramagnetic lithium-mica mineral concentrate product stream therefrom. One or more, for example each, feed stream fraction may be fed, for example separately fed or in combination, into the same WHGMS, or into separate WHGMS.
The milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals or feed source is derived from igneous rock which may be granite. The igneous rock may have been formed during the Variscan orogeny. The igneous rock may form for example part of the Cornubian batholith, the Bohemian batholith, the Mondenubian batholith or the Central French Massif.
The milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals or feed source is preferably derived from naturally deposited lithium-mica-bearing rock, sediments or
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 provide a deslimed, milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals comprising particles having an average particle size (d50) greater than 10 p.m, preferably greater than 20 p.m, preferably greater than 50 p.m. Desliming the milled feed stream to remove ultrafine particles (that are not readily separated by magnetic separation or by other beneficiation means) with an average particle size (d50) of 10 p.m or less, preferably 20 pm or less, preferably 50 p.m or less reduces the feed mass by between 10% and 25%
while losing to waste less than 5% to 10% of the contained paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and increasing the pulp density.
The feed stream or feed source may comprise a plurality of feed stream fractions. Each feed stream fraction may comprise a milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals comprising particles having a maximum particles size within a predetermined maximum particle size range. The feed stream or feed source may comprise a plurality of feed stream fractions, in which one or more, preferably each feed stream fraction, comprises particles within a different predetermined maximum particle size range. The predetermined maximum particle size range within one feed stream fraction may overlap with the predetermined maximum particle size range of one or more other feed stream fractions. The predetermined maximum particle size range within one feed stream fraction may be distinct from the predetermined maximum particle size range of one or more other feed stream fractions.
The process may comprise feeding each feed stream fraction or a combination of one or more feed stream fractions into a WHGMS and obtaining a paramagnetic lithium-mica mineral concentrate product stream therefrom. One or more, for example each, feed stream fraction may be fed, for example separately fed or in combination, into the same WHGMS, or into separate WHGMS.
The milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals or feed source is derived from igneous rock which may be granite. The igneous rock may have been formed during the Variscan orogeny. The igneous rock may form for example part of the Cornubian batholith, the Bohemian batholith, the Mondenubian batholith or the Central French Massif.
The milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals or feed source is preferably derived from naturally deposited lithium-mica-bearing rock, sediments or
9 AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 anthropogenically generated waste streams or lithium-mica storage dams derived from naturally deposited lithium-mica-bearing rock or sediments.
The milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals or feed source preferably comprises a slurry containing between 10% and 50% w/w solids, preferably grading between 500 and 15,000 ppm lithium.
The WHGMS preferably provides a magnetic field with a magnetic field strength of less than 2 Tesla, preferably less than 1.5 Tesla, for example in the range of between 0.2 and 1.5 Tesla.
The WHGMS is preferably a VPWHGMS.
Pulsation may be provided by for example an actuated diaphragm configured to provide pulsation to the slurry feeding the corresponding WHGMS, preferably a VPWHGMS.
The WHGMS preferably comprises one or more VPWHGMS. The VPWHGMS may use an actuated diaphragm pulsation mechanism with a stroke length between 0 mm and 40 mm, and a stroke rate between 0 Hz and 400 Hz.
At least one of the WHGMS is a VPWHGMS. The vertical orientation of the separator ring enables magnetic particle flushing in the opposite direction to the flow of feed material. This enables the more strongly magnetic and or coarse particles to be removed without passing through the full depth of the separator matrix. Additionally, flushing may take place near the top of rotation of the vertical ring where the magnetic field is the lowest, thereby reducing residual attraction of paramagnetic particles. These benefits reduce magnetic matrix plugging and increase mechanical availability.
Preferably, the first and/or second and/or third WHGMS is a VPWHGMS.
Preferably, each of the first and second and third WHGMS is a VPWHGMS. For example, in one embodiment, each of the WHGMS is a VPWHGMS.
In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first "Rougher" WHGMS and a second, "Scavenger" WHGMS having a magnetic field strength preferably equal to or greater than the magnetic field strength of the Rougher WHGMS, in which the Scavenger WHGMS is operable to receive the second waste stream from the Rougher WHGMS and to recover additional paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals therefrom to provide a third product stream comprising AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue, and a third waste stream therefrom.
In one embodiment, the process comprises feeding one or more waste streams from one or more first "Rougher" WHGMS or a third "Cleaner" WHGMS into a second "Scavenger"
WHGMS having a magnetic field strength preferably equal to or greater than the magnetic field strength of the Rougher WHGMS to provide the third product stream comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue, and a third waste stream. The third waste stream may comprise a decreased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with an increased concentration of nonmagnetic gangue in a lithium concentration below a predetermined minimum amount. The predetermined minimum amount may be selected to correspond to an amount of lithium content that is considered to be uneconomic to use for further extraction.
The apparatus may further comprise a Cleaner WHGMS operable to receive one or more product streams from the Rougher WHGMS and/or the Scavenger WHGMS to provide a fourth product stream comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the first, second or third product streams, and a fourth waste stream.
The process may comprise feeding a product stream obtained from the Rougher WHGMS into a Cleaner WHGMS to provide a fourth product stream comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the second product stream obtained from the Rougher WHGMS, and fourth waste stream.
In one embodiment, the Scavenger WHGMS is in communication with a Cleaner WHGMS.
The Cleaner WHGMS preferably has a third magnetic field strength preferably no greater than the magnetic field strength of the Scavenger WHGMS.
In one embodiment, the process comprises feeding a second product stream obtained from one or more Rougher WHGMS into a Cleaner WHGMS. The magnetic Field strength of the Cleaner WHGMS is preferably no greater than the magnetic field strength of the Scavenger WHGMS. The Cleaner WHGMS provides a fourth product stream comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the magnetic product stream obtained from one or more Rougher WHGMS, and a fourth waste stream. The fourth AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 waste stream may contain paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals in a concentration above a predetermined minimum amount. As such, the fourth waste stream may be recycled, for example reintroduced into one of the WHGMS (for example the first or second or third or a fourth WHGMS) in order to further extract any residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals remaining within the fourth waste stream.
The apparatus may comprise one or more of: LIMS, WHGMS, scavenger WHGMSs and/or cleaner WHGMSs, and any combination thereof, operable to receive one or more waste streams.
One or more waste streams may be fed into one or more of: the LIMS, WHGMS, a scavenger WHGMS and/or a cleaner WHGMS, and any combination thereof.
The apparatus may comprise one or more of: additional LIMS(s), WHGMS(s), VPWHGMS(s), scavenger WHGMS(s), cleaner WHGMS(s), or any combination thereof, operable to receive one or more product streams.
One or more product streams are preferably fed into one or more of: a further LIMS, a WHGMS, a VPWHGMS, a scavenger WHGMS, a cleaner WHGMS, or any combination thereof.
Preferably, the process further includes pulsation of the slurry fed to at least one of the magnetic separators. Preferably, the process further includes pulsation of one or more, preferably of at least the first VPWHGMS. Preferably, the process further includes pulsation of the second VPWHGMS. Preferably, the process further includes pulsation of one or more, preferably each of the first, second and third VPWHGMS, or any combination thereof.
Pulsation assists the separation of weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica mineral particles by agitating the feed material in the separation zone, for example a slurry, and keeping particles in a loose state, thereby minimizing the risk of blockages, accumulation or entrapment on the faces of the magnetic matrix and maximising contact of weakly paramagnetic particles to the magnet while reducing particle momentum aiding in magnetic attraction.
The process and apparatus of the present invention has been found to be more tolerant of fine particles as well as of larger particle sizes, and to recover particles of lower magnetic susceptibility than conventional beneficiation processes. As a result, the process of the present invention is more time and energy efficient and lower cost than conventional AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 beneficiation processes, produces higher mass recovery and does not require the use of chemicals.
Preferably, the wet magnetic separation process for beneficiation of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals is an exclusively magnetic separation process. In one embodiment, the wet magnetic separation process of the present invention does not involve any additional beneficiation steps.
The process of the present invention has been found by the inventor in pilot-scale testwork to provide improved recovery efficiency compared to conventional beneficiation processes including dense media separation and/or floatation. Furthermore, the process of the present invention involves fewer processing steps, is more economical and more environmentally friendly than conventional beneficiation processes. The process of the present invention does not use environmentally damaging processes or reagents, such as surfactants.
The waste products are principally chemically unaltered silica sand and feldspar which can be disposed of safely.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail in relation to the accompanying Figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
Figure 1 and Figure 2 are schematic illustrations of the magnetic separation process for extracting weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals by sequentially extracting paramagnetic magnetic fractions of an ore according to one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the magnetic separation apparatus 10 for extracting paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 2A, highly magnetic waste materials and nonmagnetic gangue.
By way of example, the comminution apparatus 12 is operable to produce a milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 2A. The comminution apparatus 12 may for example be a device that is configured to break, crush, grind, vibrate and/or mill the mineral feed source 1A, 1B. Preferably, the comminution apparatus is a milling device, for AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 example, a wet milling device. The comminution apparatus 12 provides a milled feed slurry stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 2A having predetermined maximum particle size, for example, of no more than 3 mm. The comminution apparatus 12 also provides a milled waste stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 2B having maximum particle size which is found to be greater than the predetermined maximum particle size. The waste stream 2B is recycled and reintroduced to the comminution apparatus 12 as recycled mineral feed stream 1B.
The apparatus 10 further comprises a cyclone 14 comprising an inlet 16 operable to receive the milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 2A. The cyclone 14 further comprises an outlet 18 to provide a deslimed, milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 4 therethrough. The cyclone is operable to produce a deslimed, milled paramagnetic lithium-mica mineral feed stream having an average particle size (d50) of 10 p.m or more, for example 50 km or more.
The apparatus 10 further comprises a Low Intensity Magnetic Separator ("LIMS") 20 in communication with the outlet 18 of the cyclone 14 to receive the deslimed, milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 4 therefrom.
The LIMS 20 is operable to have a first magnetic field strength to produce a first highly magnetic waste stream (not shown) and a first product stream comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and nonmagnetic gangue 5.
The apparatus 10 further comprises a first, "Rougher" WHGMS 22 in communication with the LIMS 20 to receive the first product stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica mineral 5 therefrom.
The Rougher WHGMS 22 is operable to have a second magnetic field strength higher than the first magnetic field strength of the LIMS 20.
The Rougher WHGMS 22 is operable to provide a second waste stream 7 and a second product stream 6 comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue.
The apparatus 10 may further comprise one or more of: a second, "Scavenger"
WHGMS
and/or a third, "Cleaner" WHGMS.
AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 Figure 2 shows an embodiment where the second nonmagnetic waste stream E is fed into a Scavenger WHGMS 3. The Scavenger WHGMS has a magnetic field strength preferably equal to or greater than the magnetic field strength of the Rougher WHGMS 2. The Scavenger WHGMS 3. provides a third product stream F comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and a third waste stream G.
The apparatus further comprises a Cleaner WHGMS 4. in communication with the Rougher WHGMS 2. The Cleaner WHGMS 4 receives the second product stream D from the Rougher WHGMS 2 and provides a fourth product stream H comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the product stream D or product stream F, and a fourth waste stream I.
It is to be understood that one or more waste streams may be recycled and reintroduced into any one of: LIMS, one or more WHGMS, scavenger WHGMS and/or cleaner WHGMS, or any combination thereof, in order to further extract and concentrate paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals therefrom.
The present invention has been found in pilot-scale testing to increase lithium-mica recovery efficiency with low energy consumption and without requiring any nonmagnetic beneficiation steps or the use of environmentally harmful chemicals. The process of the present invention can be used to achieve >90% recovery of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals to a concentrate.
The operating principle of the invention relies on a series of magnetic separation steps which are tuned to enable the selective recovery of materials with different magnetic susceptibilities. The applicant has achieved this through tailoring the forces required for particle capture at each magnetic separation step. To initially analyse the forces involved in particle capture, an idealised situation describing the separation process can be applied. A
spherical paramagnetic particle in a fluid moving at a constant velocity, approaches a fe rromagnetic/ferri magnetic object of circular cross section. A uniform magnetic field applied perpendicular to the object axis magnetises the object and a magnetic force acting on the particle is developed. If the magnetic force is large enough to overcome the competing hydrodynamic force and gravity then the particle will adhere to the magnetised matrix. This AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 is the underlying principle by which the method described is tuned to a particular separation challenge. The equation that describes the relationship is given below.
FM = V = Mp = (dH/dX) where;
FM is the magnetic force required V is the volume of the particle Mp is the magnetic susceptibility of the particle dH/dX is the magnetic gradient seen across the particle.
The magnetic force required for separation becomes proportional to three terms: the volume of the particle, the particle magnetisation (gauss/gram), and the field gradient over the dimensions of the particle. In the process of the present invention, all of these terms are tuned to improve the recovery yield of the material. The dynamics of this sequence of separations become readily interpretable by substitution into the formula. For each of the target magnetic separation steps of the present invention, a range of parameters for practising the invention is defined.
The process of the invention is particularly suited to the magnetic beneficiation of lithium-mica minerals that are weakly paramagnetic and with low contrast in magnetic susceptibility to the gangue. In a general sense, lithium-mica minerals suitable for beneficiation by this process can be described by the general formula:
X2Y4-6Z8020(OH, F)4, in which;
X is K, Na, or Ca or less commonly Ba, Rb, or Cs;
Y is Al, Mg, or Fe or less commonly Mn, Cr, Ti, Li, Sn etc.;
Z is chiefly Si or Al, but also may include Fe3+ or Ti.
Structurally, lithium-mica minerals can be classed as dioctahedral (Y = 4) and trioctahedral (Y
=6).
AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 One example of a paramagnetic lithium-mica mineral suitable for concentration using the invention is Zinnwaldite KLiFeAl(AlSi3)010(OH,F)2 (potassium lithium iron aluminium silicate hydroxide fluoride).
AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 anthropogenically generated waste streams or lithium-mica storage dams derived from naturally deposited lithium-mica-bearing rock or sediments.
The milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals or feed source preferably comprises a slurry containing between 10% and 50% w/w solids, preferably grading between 500 and 15,000 ppm lithium.
The WHGMS preferably provides a magnetic field with a magnetic field strength of less than 2 Tesla, preferably less than 1.5 Tesla, for example in the range of between 0.2 and 1.5 Tesla.
The WHGMS is preferably a VPWHGMS.
Pulsation may be provided by for example an actuated diaphragm configured to provide pulsation to the slurry feeding the corresponding WHGMS, preferably a VPWHGMS.
The WHGMS preferably comprises one or more VPWHGMS. The VPWHGMS may use an actuated diaphragm pulsation mechanism with a stroke length between 0 mm and 40 mm, and a stroke rate between 0 Hz and 400 Hz.
At least one of the WHGMS is a VPWHGMS. The vertical orientation of the separator ring enables magnetic particle flushing in the opposite direction to the flow of feed material. This enables the more strongly magnetic and or coarse particles to be removed without passing through the full depth of the separator matrix. Additionally, flushing may take place near the top of rotation of the vertical ring where the magnetic field is the lowest, thereby reducing residual attraction of paramagnetic particles. These benefits reduce magnetic matrix plugging and increase mechanical availability.
Preferably, the first and/or second and/or third WHGMS is a VPWHGMS.
Preferably, each of the first and second and third WHGMS is a VPWHGMS. For example, in one embodiment, each of the WHGMS is a VPWHGMS.
In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first "Rougher" WHGMS and a second, "Scavenger" WHGMS having a magnetic field strength preferably equal to or greater than the magnetic field strength of the Rougher WHGMS, in which the Scavenger WHGMS is operable to receive the second waste stream from the Rougher WHGMS and to recover additional paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals therefrom to provide a third product stream comprising AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue, and a third waste stream therefrom.
In one embodiment, the process comprises feeding one or more waste streams from one or more first "Rougher" WHGMS or a third "Cleaner" WHGMS into a second "Scavenger"
WHGMS having a magnetic field strength preferably equal to or greater than the magnetic field strength of the Rougher WHGMS to provide the third product stream comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue, and a third waste stream. The third waste stream may comprise a decreased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with an increased concentration of nonmagnetic gangue in a lithium concentration below a predetermined minimum amount. The predetermined minimum amount may be selected to correspond to an amount of lithium content that is considered to be uneconomic to use for further extraction.
The apparatus may further comprise a Cleaner WHGMS operable to receive one or more product streams from the Rougher WHGMS and/or the Scavenger WHGMS to provide a fourth product stream comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the first, second or third product streams, and a fourth waste stream.
The process may comprise feeding a product stream obtained from the Rougher WHGMS into a Cleaner WHGMS to provide a fourth product stream comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the second product stream obtained from the Rougher WHGMS, and fourth waste stream.
In one embodiment, the Scavenger WHGMS is in communication with a Cleaner WHGMS.
The Cleaner WHGMS preferably has a third magnetic field strength preferably no greater than the magnetic field strength of the Scavenger WHGMS.
In one embodiment, the process comprises feeding a second product stream obtained from one or more Rougher WHGMS into a Cleaner WHGMS. The magnetic Field strength of the Cleaner WHGMS is preferably no greater than the magnetic field strength of the Scavenger WHGMS. The Cleaner WHGMS provides a fourth product stream comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the magnetic product stream obtained from one or more Rougher WHGMS, and a fourth waste stream. The fourth AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 waste stream may contain paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals in a concentration above a predetermined minimum amount. As such, the fourth waste stream may be recycled, for example reintroduced into one of the WHGMS (for example the first or second or third or a fourth WHGMS) in order to further extract any residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals remaining within the fourth waste stream.
The apparatus may comprise one or more of: LIMS, WHGMS, scavenger WHGMSs and/or cleaner WHGMSs, and any combination thereof, operable to receive one or more waste streams.
One or more waste streams may be fed into one or more of: the LIMS, WHGMS, a scavenger WHGMS and/or a cleaner WHGMS, and any combination thereof.
The apparatus may comprise one or more of: additional LIMS(s), WHGMS(s), VPWHGMS(s), scavenger WHGMS(s), cleaner WHGMS(s), or any combination thereof, operable to receive one or more product streams.
One or more product streams are preferably fed into one or more of: a further LIMS, a WHGMS, a VPWHGMS, a scavenger WHGMS, a cleaner WHGMS, or any combination thereof.
Preferably, the process further includes pulsation of the slurry fed to at least one of the magnetic separators. Preferably, the process further includes pulsation of one or more, preferably of at least the first VPWHGMS. Preferably, the process further includes pulsation of the second VPWHGMS. Preferably, the process further includes pulsation of one or more, preferably each of the first, second and third VPWHGMS, or any combination thereof.
Pulsation assists the separation of weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica mineral particles by agitating the feed material in the separation zone, for example a slurry, and keeping particles in a loose state, thereby minimizing the risk of blockages, accumulation or entrapment on the faces of the magnetic matrix and maximising contact of weakly paramagnetic particles to the magnet while reducing particle momentum aiding in magnetic attraction.
The process and apparatus of the present invention has been found to be more tolerant of fine particles as well as of larger particle sizes, and to recover particles of lower magnetic susceptibility than conventional beneficiation processes. As a result, the process of the present invention is more time and energy efficient and lower cost than conventional AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 beneficiation processes, produces higher mass recovery and does not require the use of chemicals.
Preferably, the wet magnetic separation process for beneficiation of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals is an exclusively magnetic separation process. In one embodiment, the wet magnetic separation process of the present invention does not involve any additional beneficiation steps.
The process of the present invention has been found by the inventor in pilot-scale testwork to provide improved recovery efficiency compared to conventional beneficiation processes including dense media separation and/or floatation. Furthermore, the process of the present invention involves fewer processing steps, is more economical and more environmentally friendly than conventional beneficiation processes. The process of the present invention does not use environmentally damaging processes or reagents, such as surfactants.
The waste products are principally chemically unaltered silica sand and feldspar which can be disposed of safely.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail in relation to the accompanying Figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
Figure 1 and Figure 2 are schematic illustrations of the magnetic separation process for extracting weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals by sequentially extracting paramagnetic magnetic fractions of an ore according to one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the magnetic separation apparatus 10 for extracting paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 2A, highly magnetic waste materials and nonmagnetic gangue.
By way of example, the comminution apparatus 12 is operable to produce a milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 2A. The comminution apparatus 12 may for example be a device that is configured to break, crush, grind, vibrate and/or mill the mineral feed source 1A, 1B. Preferably, the comminution apparatus is a milling device, for AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 example, a wet milling device. The comminution apparatus 12 provides a milled feed slurry stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 2A having predetermined maximum particle size, for example, of no more than 3 mm. The comminution apparatus 12 also provides a milled waste stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 2B having maximum particle size which is found to be greater than the predetermined maximum particle size. The waste stream 2B is recycled and reintroduced to the comminution apparatus 12 as recycled mineral feed stream 1B.
The apparatus 10 further comprises a cyclone 14 comprising an inlet 16 operable to receive the milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 2A. The cyclone 14 further comprises an outlet 18 to provide a deslimed, milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 4 therethrough. The cyclone is operable to produce a deslimed, milled paramagnetic lithium-mica mineral feed stream having an average particle size (d50) of 10 p.m or more, for example 50 km or more.
The apparatus 10 further comprises a Low Intensity Magnetic Separator ("LIMS") 20 in communication with the outlet 18 of the cyclone 14 to receive the deslimed, milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals 4 therefrom.
The LIMS 20 is operable to have a first magnetic field strength to produce a first highly magnetic waste stream (not shown) and a first product stream comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and nonmagnetic gangue 5.
The apparatus 10 further comprises a first, "Rougher" WHGMS 22 in communication with the LIMS 20 to receive the first product stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica mineral 5 therefrom.
The Rougher WHGMS 22 is operable to have a second magnetic field strength higher than the first magnetic field strength of the LIMS 20.
The Rougher WHGMS 22 is operable to provide a second waste stream 7 and a second product stream 6 comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue.
The apparatus 10 may further comprise one or more of: a second, "Scavenger"
WHGMS
and/or a third, "Cleaner" WHGMS.
AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 Figure 2 shows an embodiment where the second nonmagnetic waste stream E is fed into a Scavenger WHGMS 3. The Scavenger WHGMS has a magnetic field strength preferably equal to or greater than the magnetic field strength of the Rougher WHGMS 2. The Scavenger WHGMS 3. provides a third product stream F comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and a third waste stream G.
The apparatus further comprises a Cleaner WHGMS 4. in communication with the Rougher WHGMS 2. The Cleaner WHGMS 4 receives the second product stream D from the Rougher WHGMS 2 and provides a fourth product stream H comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the product stream D or product stream F, and a fourth waste stream I.
It is to be understood that one or more waste streams may be recycled and reintroduced into any one of: LIMS, one or more WHGMS, scavenger WHGMS and/or cleaner WHGMS, or any combination thereof, in order to further extract and concentrate paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals therefrom.
The present invention has been found in pilot-scale testing to increase lithium-mica recovery efficiency with low energy consumption and without requiring any nonmagnetic beneficiation steps or the use of environmentally harmful chemicals. The process of the present invention can be used to achieve >90% recovery of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals to a concentrate.
The operating principle of the invention relies on a series of magnetic separation steps which are tuned to enable the selective recovery of materials with different magnetic susceptibilities. The applicant has achieved this through tailoring the forces required for particle capture at each magnetic separation step. To initially analyse the forces involved in particle capture, an idealised situation describing the separation process can be applied. A
spherical paramagnetic particle in a fluid moving at a constant velocity, approaches a fe rromagnetic/ferri magnetic object of circular cross section. A uniform magnetic field applied perpendicular to the object axis magnetises the object and a magnetic force acting on the particle is developed. If the magnetic force is large enough to overcome the competing hydrodynamic force and gravity then the particle will adhere to the magnetised matrix. This AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 is the underlying principle by which the method described is tuned to a particular separation challenge. The equation that describes the relationship is given below.
FM = V = Mp = (dH/dX) where;
FM is the magnetic force required V is the volume of the particle Mp is the magnetic susceptibility of the particle dH/dX is the magnetic gradient seen across the particle.
The magnetic force required for separation becomes proportional to three terms: the volume of the particle, the particle magnetisation (gauss/gram), and the field gradient over the dimensions of the particle. In the process of the present invention, all of these terms are tuned to improve the recovery yield of the material. The dynamics of this sequence of separations become readily interpretable by substitution into the formula. For each of the target magnetic separation steps of the present invention, a range of parameters for practising the invention is defined.
The process of the invention is particularly suited to the magnetic beneficiation of lithium-mica minerals that are weakly paramagnetic and with low contrast in magnetic susceptibility to the gangue. In a general sense, lithium-mica minerals suitable for beneficiation by this process can be described by the general formula:
X2Y4-6Z8020(OH, F)4, in which;
X is K, Na, or Ca or less commonly Ba, Rb, or Cs;
Y is Al, Mg, or Fe or less commonly Mn, Cr, Ti, Li, Sn etc.;
Z is chiefly Si or Al, but also may include Fe3+ or Ti.
Structurally, lithium-mica minerals can be classed as dioctahedral (Y = 4) and trioctahedral (Y
=6).
AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 One example of a paramagnetic lithium-mica mineral suitable for concentration using the invention is Zinnwaldite KLiFeAl(AlSi3)010(OH,F)2 (potassium lithium iron aluminium silicate hydroxide fluoride).
AMENDED SHEET
Claims (15)
1. A wet magnetic separation process for efficiently beneficiating (separating and concentrating) paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a milled feed stream containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with both highly magnetic and nonmagnetic gangue (A), the process comprises:
feeding the milled feed stream (A) containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, nonmagnetic gangue and highly magnetic ferrous waste into a Low magnetic field Intensity Magnetic Separator ("LIMS") (1) having a first magnetic field strength to provide a first waste stream (C) comprising highly magnetic waste material, and a first product stream (B) comprising low to nonmagnetic materials comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals together with nonmagnetic gangue;
subsequently feeding the first product stream (B) into a first Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separator ("WHGMS") (2) having a second magnetic field strength which is greater than the first magnetic field strength of the LIMS (1) to provide a second waste stream (E) comprising nonmagnetic gangue and residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica, and a second product stream (D) comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue when compared to the first product stream (B), and wherein the process is characterized in that it further comprises one or more of:
feeding the second waste stream (E) comprising carryover residual paramagnetic lithium-mica and nonmagnetic gangue into a second WHGMS (3) to provide a third product stream (F) comprising additional concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue compared to the second waste stream (E), and a third waste stream (G) comprising nonmagnetic gangue; and/or feeding the second product stream (D) comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and the third product stream (F), into a third WHGMS
(4) to provide a fourth product stream (H) comprising a further concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and a fourth waste stream (I) of nonmagnetic material; and/or AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 feeding the fourth waste stream (l) comprising nonmagnetic gangue and residual paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, into the second WHGMS (3) to recover additional paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals to the third product stream (F).
feeding the milled feed stream (A) containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, nonmagnetic gangue and highly magnetic ferrous waste into a Low magnetic field Intensity Magnetic Separator ("LIMS") (1) having a first magnetic field strength to provide a first waste stream (C) comprising highly magnetic waste material, and a first product stream (B) comprising low to nonmagnetic materials comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals together with nonmagnetic gangue;
subsequently feeding the first product stream (B) into a first Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separator ("WHGMS") (2) having a second magnetic field strength which is greater than the first magnetic field strength of the LIMS (1) to provide a second waste stream (E) comprising nonmagnetic gangue and residual carryover paramagnetic lithium-mica, and a second product stream (D) comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue when compared to the first product stream (B), and wherein the process is characterized in that it further comprises one or more of:
feeding the second waste stream (E) comprising carryover residual paramagnetic lithium-mica and nonmagnetic gangue into a second WHGMS (3) to provide a third product stream (F) comprising additional concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue compared to the second waste stream (E), and a third waste stream (G) comprising nonmagnetic gangue; and/or feeding the second product stream (D) comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and the third product stream (F), into a third WHGMS
(4) to provide a fourth product stream (H) comprising a further concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and a fourth waste stream (I) of nonmagnetic material; and/or AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 feeding the fourth waste stream (l) comprising nonmagnetic gangue and residual paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, into the second WHGMS (3) to recover additional paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals to the third product stream (F).
2. A wet magnetic separation process as claimed in Claim 1, in which the milled feed stream (A) containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals comprises particles having a maximum particles size of no more than 3 mm.
3. A wet magnetic separation process as claimed in either of Claims J. and 2, further comprising desliming the milled feed stream (A) containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals to remove particles sizes ((ISO) of 50 1.trn or less to provide a deslimed, milled feed stream containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals.
4. A wet magnetic separation process as claimed in any one of Claims J. to 3, in which the feed stream or each feed stream comprises a plurality of feed stream fractions, in which the process comprises feeding each feed stream fraction or a combination of one or more feed stream fractions into a corresponding WHGMS and obtaining a paramagnetic lithium-mica mineral concentrate product stream therefrom.
5. A wet magnetic separation process as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the milled feed stream (A) containing paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals comprises a slurry containing between 10% and 50% w/w solids, with the solids grading between 500 and 15,000 ppm lithium.
6. A wet magnetic separation process as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the WHGMS provides a magnetic field with a magnetic field strength in the range of between 0.2 and 1.5 Tesla.
7. A wet magnetic separation process as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the WHGMS is a Vertical Pulsating Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separator ("VPWHGMS").
8. A wet magnetic separation process as claimed in Claim 7, in which the VPWHGMS uses an actuated diaphragm pulsation mechanism with a stroke length between 0 and 40 mm, and a stroke rate between 0 and 400 Hz.
AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023
AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023
9. A wet magnetic separation process as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the process comprises feeding one or more waste streams from one or more first WHGMS (2) into the second WHGMS (3) comprising a second or third WHGMS preferably having a magnetic field strength equal to or greater than the magnetic field strength of the first WHGMS (2) to provide the third product stream (F) comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals, and a third waste stream (G).
10. A wet magnetic separation process as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the process comprises feeding a first product stream (B) obtained from one or more first WHGMS
(1) into the third WHGMS (4), to provide a fourth magnetic product stream (H) comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the magnetic product stream (B) obtained from one or more first WHGMS (1), and a fourth waste stream (0.
(1) into the third WHGMS (4), to provide a fourth magnetic product stream (H) comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the magnetic product stream (B) obtained from one or more first WHGMS (1), and a fourth waste stream (0.
11. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, in which one or more magnetic product streams are fed into one or more of: a further LIMS, a WHGMS, a second WHGMS, a third WHGMS, or any combination thereof.
12. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising feeding one or more waste streams is into one or more of: LIMS, WHGMS, second WHGMSs and/or third WHGMS, and any combination thereof.
13. An apparatus for the wet magnetic separation of wet milled paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals from a feed stream (4) containing weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with highly magnetic ferrous waste and nonmagnetic gangue, the apparatus comprising:
a slurry feed source (4) comprising milled weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with nonmagnetic gangue and highly magnetic waste materials;
a LIMS (20) having a first magnetic field strength, the LIMS (20) being configured to receive the slurry feed source (4), and further comprising a first waste outlet configured to provide a first highly magnetic waste stream, and a first product outlet configured to provide a first product stream (5) comprising low to nonmagnetic materials comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals together with nonmagnetic gangue;
AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 a first WHGMS (22) having a second magnetic field strength, the first WHGMS
(22) being configured to receive the first product stream (5) from the LIMS (20), and further comprising a second waste outlet configured to provide a second waste stream (7) comprising nonmagnetic gangue, and a second product outlet configured to provide a second product stream (6) comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue when compared to the first product stream (5), in which the second magnetic field strength is greater than the first magnetic field strength, a nd characterized in that the apparatus further comprises one or more of:
a second WHGMS operable to receive the second waste stream (7) from the first WHGMS (22), and in which the second WHGMS further comprises a third product outlet configured to provide a third product stream comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue compared to the second waste stream; and a third WHGMS operable to receive the second product stream from the first WHGMS
(22) and/or the third product stream from the second WHGMS to provide a fourth product stream comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the second and third product streams.
a slurry feed source (4) comprising milled weakly paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals mixed with nonmagnetic gangue and highly magnetic waste materials;
a LIMS (20) having a first magnetic field strength, the LIMS (20) being configured to receive the slurry feed source (4), and further comprising a first waste outlet configured to provide a first highly magnetic waste stream, and a first product outlet configured to provide a first product stream (5) comprising low to nonmagnetic materials comprising paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals together with nonmagnetic gangue;
AMENDED SHEET
PCT/EP 2022/060 571 - 21.06.2023 a first WHGMS (22) having a second magnetic field strength, the first WHGMS
(22) being configured to receive the first product stream (5) from the LIMS (20), and further comprising a second waste outlet configured to provide a second waste stream (7) comprising nonmagnetic gangue, and a second product outlet configured to provide a second product stream (6) comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue when compared to the first product stream (5), in which the second magnetic field strength is greater than the first magnetic field strength, a nd characterized in that the apparatus further comprises one or more of:
a second WHGMS operable to receive the second waste stream (7) from the first WHGMS (22), and in which the second WHGMS further comprises a third product outlet configured to provide a third product stream comprising concentrated paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals and a reduced concentration of nonmagnetic gangue compared to the second waste stream; and a third WHGMS operable to receive the second product stream from the first WHGMS
(22) and/or the third product stream from the second WHGMS to provide a fourth product stream comprising an increased concentration of paramagnetic lithium-mica minerals compared to the second and third product streams.
14. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, in which the WHGMS is a VPWHGMS.
15. An apparatus as claimed in either of Claims 12 and 13, in which one or more of: LIMS, WHGMS, second WHGMSs and/or third WHGMSs, or any combination thereof are operable to receive one or more waste streams.
AMENDED SHEET
AMENDED SHEET
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2106456.3 | 2021-05-06 | ||
| GB2106456.3A GB2606379A (en) | 2021-05-06 | 2021-05-06 | Wet magnetic separation process |
| PCT/EP2022/060571 WO2022233586A1 (en) | 2021-05-06 | 2022-04-21 | Mineral separation process |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA3214482A1 true CA3214482A1 (en) | 2022-11-10 |
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ID=81750407
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|---|---|---|---|
| CA3214482A Pending CA3214482A1 (en) | 2021-05-06 | 2022-04-21 | Mineral separation process |
Country Status (6)
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| EP (1) | EP4334038A1 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN117295557A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2022268510A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA3214482A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2606379A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2022233586A1 (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3502271A (en) * | 1967-05-29 | 1970-03-24 | Univ Minnesota | Iron ore treating process |
| CA3001877C (en) * | 2015-11-03 | 2021-03-30 | Magglobal, Llc | Methods, devices, systems and processes for upgrading iron oxide concentrates using reverse flotation of silica at a natural ph |
| CN108014901B (en) * | 2017-12-18 | 2019-08-02 | 江西九岭新能源有限公司 | The technique of lithium porcelain stone ore extraction lepidolite |
| CN108057513A (en) * | 2017-12-20 | 2018-05-22 | 江西九岭新能源有限公司 | The method that the barren rock of giant granite containing lithium extracts potassium feldspar concentrate and zinnwaldite concentrate |
| CN108525843A (en) * | 2018-04-19 | 2018-09-14 | 江西金辉再生资源股份有限公司 | Utilize the method for difficult mine solid waste recycling tantalum niobium, lepidolite and feldspar powder |
| WO2021000020A1 (en) * | 2019-07-03 | 2021-01-07 | Fortescue Metals Group Ltd | Method for the beneficiation of iron ore streams |
-
2021
- 2021-05-06 GB GB2106456.3A patent/GB2606379A/en active Pending
-
2022
- 2022-04-21 WO PCT/EP2022/060571 patent/WO2022233586A1/en active Application Filing
- 2022-04-21 CN CN202280031210.XA patent/CN117295557A/en active Pending
- 2022-04-21 CA CA3214482A patent/CA3214482A1/en active Pending
- 2022-04-21 EP EP22724675.8A patent/EP4334038A1/en active Pending
- 2022-04-21 AU AU2022268510A patent/AU2022268510A1/en active Pending
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| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP4334038A1 (en) | 2024-03-13 |
| AU2022268510A1 (en) | 2023-10-26 |
| WO2022233586A1 (en) | 2022-11-10 |
| CN117295557A (en) | 2023-12-26 |
| GB2606379A (en) | 2022-11-09 |
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