Retreatment of Tailings to Recover Barite.
Authors
Lamont-WE; Davis-EG; Sullivan-GV
Source
Proc 7th Miner Waste Utilization Symp Chicago Illinois, 1980 Oct; :26-33
Abstract
The feasbility of recovering barite by retreatment of tailings was demonstrated in investigations by the Bureau of Mines. The investigation was part of the Bureau's program to conserve domestic mineral resources through advancing mineral resources technology. A primary objective was to produce concentrates that would be suitable for use in oil well drilling mud applications. Two samples of tailings were received from Nevada that represented the fine and very fine fractions of waste from an operating plant. Concentrates containing over 96 pct baso4 were readily obtained from each. Barite recovery was 96 pct for the fine tailings and 86 pct for the very fine tailings. Treatment of a low-grade Missouri tailing by sizing and flotation resulted in a concentrate containing 96 pct baso4 and an 86 pct recovery of the barite. A Georgia material responded in similar fashion with the concentrate containing 97 pct baso4 and a barite recovery of 82 pct. All flotation concentrates had specific gravities in excess of the 4.20 Specification for drill mud applications.
Source Name
Proc. 7th Miner. Waste Utilization Symp, Chicago, Illinois, Oct. 20-21, 1980, PP. 26-33
