Effect of Mineralogy on the Beneficiation of REE from Heavy Mineral Sands: The Case of Nea Peramos, Kavala, Northern Greece
Beneficiation of a rare earth element (REE) ore from heavy mineral (HM) sands by particle size classification in conjunction with high-intensity magnetic separation (HIMS) was investigated. The HM sands of Nea Peramos, Kavala, Northern Greece, contain high concentrations of REE accommodated mainly i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/5/387 |
| _version_ | 1797569558577414144 |
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| author | Christina Stouraiti Vassiliki Angelatou Sofia Petushok Konstantinos Soukis Demetrios Eliopoulos |
| author_facet | Christina Stouraiti Vassiliki Angelatou Sofia Petushok Konstantinos Soukis Demetrios Eliopoulos |
| author_sort | Christina Stouraiti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Beneficiation of a rare earth element (REE) ore from heavy mineral (HM) sands by particle size classification in conjunction with high-intensity magnetic separation (HIMS) was investigated. The HM sands of Nea Peramos, Kavala, Northern Greece, contain high concentrations of REE accommodated mainly in silicate minerals, such as allanite. However, the potential of the Northern Greek placer for REE exploitation has not been fully evaluated due to limited on-shore and off-shore exploration drilling data. Characterization of the magnetic separation fractions using XRD and bulk ICP-MS chemical analysis showed that the magnetic products at high intensities were strongly enriched in the light REE (LREE), relative to the non-magnetic fraction. Allanite and titanite are the major host mineral for REE in the magnetic products but mainly allanite controls the REE budget due its high concentration in LREE. SEM/EDS and ICP-MS analysis of the different particle size fractions showed LREE enrichment in the fractions −0.425 + 0.212 mm, and a maximum enrichment in the −0.425 + 0.300 mm. The maximum enrichment is achieved after magnetic separation of the particle size fractions. Mass balance calculations showed that the maximum REE recovery is achieved after magnetic separation of each particle size fraction separately, i.e., 92 wt.% La, 91 wt.% Ce, and 87 wt.% Nd. This new information can contribute to the optimization of beneficiation process to be applied for REE recovery from HM black sands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:13:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5201c174eb6d4942a19647ac43045cd4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:13:37Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5201c174eb6d4942a19647ac43045cd42023-11-19T22:44:31ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2020-04-0110538710.3390/min10050387Effect of Mineralogy on the Beneficiation of REE from Heavy Mineral Sands: The Case of Nea Peramos, Kavala, Northern GreeceChristina Stouraiti0Vassiliki Angelatou1Sofia Petushok2Konstantinos Soukis3Demetrios Eliopoulos4Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Mineral Processing, Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13677 Acharnes, GreeceFaculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, GreeceFaculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Mineral Processing, Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13677 Acharnes, GreeceBeneficiation of a rare earth element (REE) ore from heavy mineral (HM) sands by particle size classification in conjunction with high-intensity magnetic separation (HIMS) was investigated. The HM sands of Nea Peramos, Kavala, Northern Greece, contain high concentrations of REE accommodated mainly in silicate minerals, such as allanite. However, the potential of the Northern Greek placer for REE exploitation has not been fully evaluated due to limited on-shore and off-shore exploration drilling data. Characterization of the magnetic separation fractions using XRD and bulk ICP-MS chemical analysis showed that the magnetic products at high intensities were strongly enriched in the light REE (LREE), relative to the non-magnetic fraction. Allanite and titanite are the major host mineral for REE in the magnetic products but mainly allanite controls the REE budget due its high concentration in LREE. SEM/EDS and ICP-MS analysis of the different particle size fractions showed LREE enrichment in the fractions −0.425 + 0.212 mm, and a maximum enrichment in the −0.425 + 0.300 mm. The maximum enrichment is achieved after magnetic separation of the particle size fractions. Mass balance calculations showed that the maximum REE recovery is achieved after magnetic separation of each particle size fraction separately, i.e., 92 wt.% La, 91 wt.% Ce, and 87 wt.% Nd. This new information can contribute to the optimization of beneficiation process to be applied for REE recovery from HM black sands.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/5/387rare earth elements (REE)heavy mineral sandsEURAREallanitemonaziteHIMS |
| spellingShingle | Christina Stouraiti Vassiliki Angelatou Sofia Petushok Konstantinos Soukis Demetrios Eliopoulos Effect of Mineralogy on the Beneficiation of REE from Heavy Mineral Sands: The Case of Nea Peramos, Kavala, Northern Greece Minerals rare earth elements (REE) heavy mineral sands EURARE allanite monazite HIMS |
| title | Effect of Mineralogy on the Beneficiation of REE from Heavy Mineral Sands: The Case of Nea Peramos, Kavala, Northern Greece |
| title_full | Effect of Mineralogy on the Beneficiation of REE from Heavy Mineral Sands: The Case of Nea Peramos, Kavala, Northern Greece |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Mineralogy on the Beneficiation of REE from Heavy Mineral Sands: The Case of Nea Peramos, Kavala, Northern Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Mineralogy on the Beneficiation of REE from Heavy Mineral Sands: The Case of Nea Peramos, Kavala, Northern Greece |
| title_short | Effect of Mineralogy on the Beneficiation of REE from Heavy Mineral Sands: The Case of Nea Peramos, Kavala, Northern Greece |
| title_sort | effect of mineralogy on the beneficiation of ree from heavy mineral sands the case of nea peramos kavala northern greece |
| topic | rare earth elements (REE) heavy mineral sands EURARE allanite monazite HIMS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/5/387 |
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