⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect spectroscopy monitoring of iron-bearing products from beach sand minerals processing

Beach sand minerals from the volcanic rock structures of the Drakensberg, Kwazulu-Natal, (South Africa) have been processed. Screening, flotation, spiral concentration and magnetic separation methods were used either separately or successively in an attempt to concentrate monazite minerals. Products thereof and those from a long time (up to 72 hours) microwaves treatment of the finally produced ilmenite-bearing minerals have been studied using the Mössbauer effect spectroscopy. The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect spectroscopy has demonstrated its versatility and power in monitoring the ilmenite internal reduction mechanism and products and, in characterising the iron-beating phases contained in different products from the beach sand minerals processing. Microwaves heating of ilmenite for up to 38 hours reduced internally the Fe³⁴ from the ilmenite's structure. A more prolonged microwaves heating (up to 72 hours) re-oxidised the mineral. 61 per cent natural ilmenite recovery was obtained in the floating products of a spiral concentrated -212+106 μm screened and beach sand minerals fraction. A preferential concentration of hematite with a 62 per cent recovery was found in the sinking products while the combination of screening-spiral separation-magnetic separation and flotation yielded a floating product with the highest ilmenite and the highest hematite abundance's (71 per cent, 19 per cent respectively). A natural ilmenite containing 87 per cent ilmenite and 13 per cent hematite could be produced and extracted from the sinking products of the flotation process collected subsequently to the spiral concentration and the initial screening.