Losses of magnetite iron in wet separation

Abstract

Samples of all the tailings from enrichment processes at the Abagur plant operated by OAO Evrazruda are studied. The tailings are subjected to magnetic and chemical analysis, and the magnetic characteristics of the products are measured. The mean magnetite iron content in the tailings was about 0.9% in 2013. Experiments confirm that the main magnetite losses are associated with small classes and their poor magnetic properties. The losses of magnetite are reduced as the separation field is increased. At the plant, 45% of the barium–ferrite magnetic systems in the PBM 90/250 separators have been replaced by a system based on neodymium–iron–boron composites, with increase in the field from 111 to 175 kA/m. Modernization of the magnetic systems in all the separators at the Abagur plant is recommended. In thickening, the installation of separators for regeneration of the suspensions, with a field of 190 kA/m, is recommended. After reconstruction, the losses of magnetite iron at the plant may be reduced to 0.45–0.55%.