Potentiality of Physical Upgrading for Valuable Heavy Minerals from Sermatai Area, Egypt

Diab, M.; Abu El Ghar, M.; Mohamed Gaafar, I.; Mohamed El Shafey, A. H.; Wageh Hussein, A.; Fawzy, M. Mohamed

doi:10.22044/jme.2022.11479.2136

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

¹ Nuclear Materials Authority, P. O. Box 530 Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

² Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt

https://doi.org/10.22044/jme.2022.11479.2136

Abstract

In this work we are concerned with the potentiality of using mineral processing for raising the grade of the valuable heavy minerals (VHMs) from the Quaternary stream sediments of Wadi and Delta Sermatai located on the southern coast of the Red Sea, Egypt. A rigorous understanding of the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the studied samples is a prerequisite for the selection and development of the physical processing used in order to produce a high-grade concentrate. For this purpose, the grain size distribution analysis, heavy liquid separation tests as well as XRF, and SEM analysis are performed. The magnetite, ilmenite, garnet, zircon, rutile, apatite, sphene, pyrolusite, celestine, and heavy green silicates are the valuable heavy minerals recorded in the studied samples; but their quantity varies between Wadi and Delta. The upgrading experiments are performed via a shaking table in conjunction with the low and high-intensity magnetic separator in order to obtain the high-grade concentrates from the valuable heavy minerals, and after applying the optimum separation conditions, the total heavy mineral (THM) assay increase from 8.32% to 46.04% for Wadi Sermatai, while for Delta Sermatai increase from 8.37% to 50.13% into 8.89% and 9.59%, respectively, by mass yield. The THM recovery values reach 66.84% for Wadi Sermatai and 67.23% for Delta Sermatai. After the results of the chemical analysis of the concentrates, it is proved that the Sermatai area is considered as a potential source for some economic elements such as Fe, Ti, Zn, Zr, Cr, V, and Sr.

Keywords

20.1001.1.22518592.2022.13.1.3.5

Main Subjects

Physical Separation

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Journal of Mining and Environment

Potentiality of Physical Upgrading for Valuable Heavy Minerals from Sermatai Area, Egypt

References

References

Volume 13, Issue 1
January 2022
Pages 15-32

Potentiality of Physical Upgrading for Valuable Heavy Minerals from Sermatai Area, Egypt

References

References

Volume 13, Issue 1January 2022Pages 15-32

Volume 13, Issue 1
January 2022
Pages 15-32