Mechanical Activation Effects on Physicochemical Characteristics of Silica-Based Alluvial Columbite-Tantalite Bearing Mineral for Recovery of Critical Metals
摘要
GrindabilityGrindability study was conducted on a silica-based alluvial columbite-tantalum mineral. GrindabilityGrindability values were therefore obtained. The millingMilling process was conducted at various millingMilling conditions. Chemical characterizationCharacterization, as well as the millingMilling effects on the particleParticle size distribution and the physicochemical structure of the mineral, was investigated. In addition, the effect of particleParticle sizes on the liberation, chemical compositionChemical composition, and thermal properties of the mineral was also investigated under different millingMilling conditions. This is significant in the sustainabilitySustainability in processing, mining, and metallurgical engineering and especially in the columbite mineral liberation and design/development of effective mineral processing or beneficiationBeneficiation routes for overall efficiency of recovery, separation and extraction of value metals such as: Nb, Ta, and Fe. This study aids the comprehension of the deciphering factor which is to be considered when choosing or selecting suitable comminutionComminution design system and equipment for successful extraction and recovery of the critical metals.