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Egyptian beach ilmenite occurs in a relatively high content in the naturally highly concentrated superficial black sand deposits at specific beach zones in the northern parts of the Nile Delta at Rosetta. Microscopic study shows that the ilmenite occurs as fresh homogeneous black or heterogeneous multicoloured altered grains and exhibits three types (homogeneous, exsolved and altered) of ilmenite varieties. XRD data of ilmenite indicates their association with minor hematite and quartz, whereas leucoxene shows its association with Nb‐rutile, pseudorutile and hematite. Grain size distribution suggests a very fine sand size of >89% and 80% and a fine sand size of 10.5% and 18.3% for fresh and altered ilmenites, respectively. The density of fresh, altered ilmenite and leucoxene concentrates varies from 2.70, 2.50 to 2.40 ton/m3, suggesting a gradual decrease from high grade fresh to leucoxene and consistent with variation in magnetic susceptibility as a consequence of the leaching of iron. Mass magnetic susceptibility reveals 97.6% of ilmenite and 92% of the altered form are obtained at 0.20 and 0.48 ampere. Fresh ilmenite exhibits variable TiO2 (47.18%) and Fe2O3T (46.10%) with minor MnO, MgO and Cr2O3 (1.22, 1.10 and 0.51%). The altered ilmenite is higher in TiO2 (76.16%) and SiO2 (4.68%) and lower in Fe2O3T (14.45%), MnO, MgO and Cr2O3 (0.39, 0.52 and 0.11%) compared with the fresh form. Three concentrates of ilmenites (G1, G2 and G3) were prepared from crude ore using a Reading cross belt magnetic separator under different conditions, revealing a gradual increase of TiO2, SiO2, Al2O3 and CaO accompanied by a decrease of Fe2O3T, MgO and Cr2O3 with repetition of the separation processes. Several ore dressing techniques were carried out to upgrade the ilmenite concentrate.

Abstract:The northern part of Um Naggat granite massif (UNGM) has suffered extensive post-magmatic metasomatic reworking which results into the development of (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, U, Th, F)-and albite-enriched and greisenized apogranite body (UNAP) of 600 m thick, and more than 3 km in the strike length.Albitization produced an enrichment in Zr (av. 2384 ppm), Hf (61), Nb (419), and U (43). The Th/U ratio ranges between 1.33 and 1.90. Extreme albitization (i.e. the albitite rock) is characterized by sharp decrease in the rare metals contents. However, extreme greisenization (i.e. endogreisen bodies) is characterized by a considerable enrichment in Zr (av. 5464 ppm), Hf (143), Nb (2329), Ta (152), U (66) and Th (178). The Th/U ratio ranges between 1.57 and 3.60. In contrast to extreme greisenization, it seems that extreme albitization does not apparently change the fluid pH and therefore poor amounts of rare metals are localized in the albitites.It is suggested that the presence of Na + , H + and F -in the ore fluids was essential to stablize complexes of Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, U, Th, and HREE during extraction and transportation. In contrast, contemporaneous decrease of temperature and increasing pH due to decreasing pressure are considered the essential factors for localization of disseminated mineralization of Zr and Nb in the apical parts of the UNAP. The enhanced uranium content in the alteration facies of UNAP coupled with the absence of significant uranium mineralization may indicate the metalliferous rather than mineralized nature for the UNAP. The high uranium contents are stabilized in refractory accessory minerals. However, with repect to Zr and Nb, the UNAP especially the albitized and greisen facies, can be categorized as a mineralized productive granite.

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