Technological developments in processing Australian mineral sand deposits

摘要

Almost all Australian mineral sand deposits are placer deposits, with the major commercial 'deposits located in four provinces along the east, west and south coasts of Australia and in ancient basins in the southeast of the country. The development of new technology to achieve the mineral separations and its adaption to changes in the composition of the minerals in the deposits are discussed. Also, novel processing conditions developed to lower the levels of impurity elements (in particular manganese and radionuclides) in the heavy minerals, and to remove gangue minerals in the deposits to obtain the maximum value of the minerals in the deposits, are summarised. The extensive, but still undeveloped, fine-grained Murray Basin deposits will require unique flotation conditions and roasting processes to recover and produce marketable heavy mineral concentrates. The numerous potential novel processes that have been proposed for these fine-grained Murray Basin deposits are noted and discussed.