Beneficiation of Kyanite Ore from Rio Arriba County.

摘要

Although no extensive drilling program has been carried out,there is reliable geological evidence that a considerable tonnage of high grade kyanite ore exists near Petaca,New Mexico. Development of the Petaca kyanite deposit must be contingent on three equally important factors,namely, a market need, a proved ore reserve,and a satisfactory treatment method. It has now been proved that samples assaying 23% kyanite,or greater,can be treated with a commercial collector,Aero 825,in an acidic pulp to give a high grade concentrate (greater than 93%,with satisfactory recoveries and low in iron). The flowsheet is relatively simple,flotation is independent of cation contaminants in the water,uses only a few relatively cheap reagents,and does not require an expensive desliming step. It is,however,quite sensitive to size,requiring a minus 65-mesh grind,and it seems to require careful control of pH within a narrow range to give satisfactory grades. The kyanite concentrate can withstand temperatures equivalent to cone 37 (1820C) without melting or discoloration.