Removal of hematite from Bitlis-Hurmuz kyanite for producing concentrates suitable for the refractory industry

The aim of this study is the removal of hematite from Bitlis-Hurmuz kyanite to produce kyanite concentrates of suitable specification for use in the refractory industry. For this purpose, two groups of flotation experiments were carried out. In the first group of experiments, flotation of hematite was performed at pH values between 2 and 9. The effect of the type and the amount of the collector was investigated during the flotation of hematite at pH values of 4 and 7. In the second group of experiments, kyanite flotation was performed in the presence of petroleum sulphonate + alkyl succinamate and oleic acid at a pH of 4. This resulted in a concentrate containing > 55% Al2O3 with a recovery of > 65%. The Fe2O3 content of the kyanite sample was reduced from an initial value of 2.3% to a final value of 0.9%. The authors are in the Department of Mining Engineering at Dicle Universitesi, Muh. Mim. Fak. Maden Muh. Bolumu, 21280 Diyarbakir, Turkey. (C) 2005 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.