Characterization and beneficiation of low grade Nb AND Ta ore from Kibara belt
- Authors: Mutombo, David , Nheta, Willie
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Niobium , Tantalum , Flotation
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/239075 , uj:24552 , Citation: Mutombo, D. & Nheta, W. 2017. Characterization and beneficiation of low grade Nb AND Ta ore from Kibara belt.
- Description: Abstract: Due to their chemical, physical and mechanical properties, niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta) are strategically used in various technical applications. About 130 different minerals contain tantalum and niobium, of which only about 80 are found in economical deposits. The remainder contains Nb and Ta as impurities. The most commercialised source of Nb and Ta is a columbite-tantalite ore often referred to as coltan containing pyrochlorite. The Central African Mesoproterozoic Kibara belt in Katanga (Democratic Republic of Congo) forms a metallogenic province that hosts a variety of granite-related mineralization, rich in cassiterite, columbite–tantalite, wolframite/ferberite, spodumene and beryl. This study focuses on the characterization of Nb/Ta ores from the Kibara belt by using the XRF, SEM/EDS, XRD and ICP-OES. It was observed that Nb/Ta ore that occurs in this belt has a high Nb/Ta ratio. The grade of the ore is 0.01wt% Ta and 0.04wt% Nb. The major minerals phases are Tapiolite, Tantalite, Simpsonite, Pyrochlore and Ilmenorutile. The major gangue minerals present locking Nb/Ta are silica, feldspars with small amounts of mica and quartz. The size of the particles containing Nb/Ta are 8-12microns. Basing on these results, flotation is proposed at as the suitable way of concentrating this ore.
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An investigation on the parameters affecting smelting process of a Cassiterite bearing Niobium and Tantalum ore
- Authors: Mutombo, David Ilunga
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Smelting , Metallurgy , Niobium ores , Tantalum , Cassiterite
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/295026 , uj:32112
- Description:
Abstract: This thesis details results obtained from the smelting process of Cassiterite ore bearing Nb/Ta minerals. The Cassiterite ore, sourced from the Kibara belt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was characterised using different analytical equipment such as XRF, XRD and SEM/EDS. It was then treated using a shaking table in order to concentrate it. The Cassiterite ore was then smelt in a tube furnace and the effect of basicity and smelting time was investigated. The chemical and mineralogical studies by XRF and XRD revealed that the Cassiterite ore sample contained Sn (76.01%), Nb2O5 (0.62%) and Ta2O5 (0.81%). It was mainly composed of Cassiterite (SnO2) as the major mineral phase with minor compounds of Sillimanite (Al2SiO5), Ferrotapiolite (Fe(Nb,Ta)2O6), Pyrochlore ((Na, Ca, U)2 (Nb,Ta)2 06) and Tapiolite minerals (FeTa2O6). These results were confirmed using SEM/EDX. It was further revealed that rich Nb and Ta minerals (Pyrochlore and/or Tapiolite and/or Ferrotapiolite) are trapped in sizes ranging from 1.98 to 3.43 μm in the Cassiterite mineral. The results from the gravity pre-concentration process using a shaking table revealed that the Sn grade improved from 76.01 up to 90.50%. However, the Sn recovery was 49.6%; 55.5%; 65.69% and 14.8% for sizes of x>212; 212
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