STUDY OF GRANULOMETRIC AND CHEMICAL-MINERAL COMPOSITIONS OF TOMTOR ORE DEPOSIT

Abstract

A study of the particle size distribution, mineral and chemical composition of the complex scandium-rare-earth-niobium Tomtor ore deposit has been conducted. It is shown that the basis of the ore is comprised of phosphates, carbonates and niobates. The main identified minerals are the minerals of crandallite group (gorceixite, goyazite and florencite), pyrochlore and monazite, in addition, clearly identified boehmite, apatite, and quartz. A group of other minerals includes siderite, kaolinite, rutile and some other minerals. It is established that the investigated ore belongs to a mineral variety of the pyrochlore-monazite-crandallite ores of phosphate-rare-metal type with a predominance of crandallite minerals (50%) and relatively low content of pyrochlore (~7%) in its composition. Based on the content of niobium oxide Nb2O5 (~4%) in a sample, the ore can be attributed to the second class according to the accepted classification, i.e. the rich niobium ores, containing from 3,5 to 9% Nb2O5. Tomtor ore deposit is also rich in the mineral content of rare earth elements. On the basis of the conducted research the conclusion about practical impossibility of beneficiation of “Tomtor” ore deposits by traditional methods and economic feasibility of ore processing by the combined pyro - and hydrometallurgy methods is made.

Keywords

• руда месторождения Томтор
• гранулометрический состав
• минеральный состав
• редкоземельные металлы (РЗМ)
• ниобий