Flotation Process of Lithium from a Pegmatite-type Lithium Ore in Southern Africa

The primary lithium minerals in the ore are spodumene, lithium-bearing muscovite, and lepidolite, with small quantities of montebrasite, elbaite, and lithiophyllite. The gangue minerals primarily consist of feldspar and quartz. The Li2O in the raw ore is 1.60%, 72.71% of the lithium is present in th...

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Main Authors: Litao LI, Jiushuai DENG
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Institute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences 2025-08-01
Series:Kuangchan zonghe liyong
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Online Access:http://www.kczhly.com/en/article/doi/10.12476/kczhly.202408200241
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author Litao LI
Jiushuai DENG
author_facet Litao LI
Jiushuai DENG
author_sort Litao LI
collection DOAJ
description The primary lithium minerals in the ore are spodumene, lithium-bearing muscovite, and lepidolite, with small quantities of montebrasite, elbaite, and lithiophyllite. The gangue minerals primarily consist of feldspar and quartz. The Li2O in the raw ore is 1.60%, 72.71% of the lithium is present in the form of spodumene, 16.90% in the form of lepidolite, 2.91% in the form of lithium phosphate minerals such as montebrasite and lepidolite, and 7.48% as lithium mineral inclusions within quartz and feldspar. The recyclable lithium minerals primarily include lepidolite and spodumene. The floatability of lepidolite and spodumene is quite similar, and their floatability can be adjusted through the use of appropriate flotation collectors, regulators, and activators, allowing for the flotation of both lepidolite and spodumene concentrates. Using organic acid AS as the collector, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide as regulators, and calcium chloride as the activator, lepidolite concentrate with a Li2O grade of 2.92% and a recovery of 15.47%, as well as spodumene concentrate with a Li2O grade of 6.36% and a recovery of 71.20%, were obtained through a small-scale closed-circuit test. The total Li2O recovery was 86.67%, with a corresponding Li2O grade of 5.26%.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1000-6532
language zho
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Institute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
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spelling doaj-art-6dca2e2d64b64da9bca4681e86d41a302025-08-25T08:13:18ZzhoInstitute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological SciencesKuangchan zonghe liyong1000-65322025-08-0146412112810.12476/kczhly.2024082002412025-04lilitaoFlotation Process of Lithium from a Pegmatite-type Lithium Ore in Southern AfricaLitao LI0Jiushuai DENG1School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, ChinaThe primary lithium minerals in the ore are spodumene, lithium-bearing muscovite, and lepidolite, with small quantities of montebrasite, elbaite, and lithiophyllite. The gangue minerals primarily consist of feldspar and quartz. The Li2O in the raw ore is 1.60%, 72.71% of the lithium is present in the form of spodumene, 16.90% in the form of lepidolite, 2.91% in the form of lithium phosphate minerals such as montebrasite and lepidolite, and 7.48% as lithium mineral inclusions within quartz and feldspar. The recyclable lithium minerals primarily include lepidolite and spodumene. The floatability of lepidolite and spodumene is quite similar, and their floatability can be adjusted through the use of appropriate flotation collectors, regulators, and activators, allowing for the flotation of both lepidolite and spodumene concentrates. Using organic acid AS as the collector, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide as regulators, and calcium chloride as the activator, lepidolite concentrate with a Li2O grade of 2.92% and a recovery of 15.47%, as well as spodumene concentrate with a Li2O grade of 6.36% and a recovery of 71.20%, were obtained through a small-scale closed-circuit test. The total Li2O recovery was 86.67%, with a corresponding Li2O grade of 5.26%.http://www.kczhly.com/en/article/doi/10.12476/kczhly.202408200241pegmatitespodumenelepidoliteflotation
spellingShingle Litao LI
Jiushuai DENG
Flotation Process of Lithium from a Pegmatite-type Lithium Ore in Southern Africa
Kuangchan zonghe liyong
pegmatite
spodumene
lepidolite
flotation
title Flotation Process of Lithium from a Pegmatite-type Lithium Ore in Southern Africa
title_full Flotation Process of Lithium from a Pegmatite-type Lithium Ore in Southern Africa
title_fullStr Flotation Process of Lithium from a Pegmatite-type Lithium Ore in Southern Africa
title_full_unstemmed Flotation Process of Lithium from a Pegmatite-type Lithium Ore in Southern Africa
title_short Flotation Process of Lithium from a Pegmatite-type Lithium Ore in Southern Africa
title_sort flotation process of lithium from a pegmatite type lithium ore in southern africa
topic pegmatite
spodumene
lepidolite
flotation
url http://www.kczhly.com/en/article/doi/10.12476/kczhly.202408200241
work_keys_str_mv AT litaoli flotationprocessoflithiumfromapegmatitetypelithiumoreinsouthernafrica
AT jiushuaideng flotationprocessoflithiumfromapegmatitetypelithiumoreinsouthernafrica