TY - GEN
T1 - Characterization and beneficiation of low grade Nb and Ta ore from kibara belt
AU - Mutombo, David
AU - Nheta, Willie
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© SGEM2017. All Rights Reserved.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Flotation
KW - Niobium
KW - Pyrochlore and Kibara belt
KW - Tantalum
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85032508619&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5593/sgem2017/11/S04.100
DO - 10.5593/sgem2017/11/S04.100
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85032508619
SN - 9786197408263
T3 - International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference Surveying Geology and Mining Ecology Management, SGEM
SP - 789
EP - 796
BT - Education and Accreditation in Geosciences; Environmental Legislation, Multilateral Relations And Funding Opportunities
PB - International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference
T2 - 17th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference, SGEM 2017
Y2 - 29 June 2017 through 5 July 2017
ER -