This paper discusses the results of a laboratory study of the potential of utilizing ilmenite from tin tailings as weighting material in drilling mud. The results showed that for a given mud density, ilmenite gave a lower solid content. Compared with barite, ilmenite gave a much higher yield point and gel strength, but there were little differences in apparent viscosity and plastic viscosity. Ilmenite was also found to give a higher API fluid loss than barite. The high yield point and gel strength of the mud that used ilmenite as weighting material could be lowered by increasing the concentration of lignosulfonate in the mud. The results confirm that in comparison with barite, ilmenite from tin tailings has the potential to be used effectively as weighting material in drilling mud.
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