Influence of Jig Pulsation Frequency in Magnetite Concentration

Abstract

Abstract. The importance of pigments for the civilization is obvious and well documented. Although these materials have been discovered many years ago, research continues nowadays. Industries often require new shades, colors and more homogeneous and stable pigments. The selection of mineral pigments is of major importance to acquire high quality, color, purity and mostly free of chemical contaminants, such as chemicals from froth flotation process. The region of Catalã o, Brazil, has several mineralizations, including apatite, barite, magnetite, monazite, niobium, titanite and vermiculite. Nowadays phosphate, niobium and barite are economically exploited. For the production of these minerals, the magnetite is removed through magnetic separation and sent to a tailings dam. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of producing iron oxide to be used as pigments as well as to evaluate the pulsation frequency influence in the jigging process. A Denver jig, in lab scale was used. Test were carried out using six different particle sizes and four pulsation frequencies, keeping the water flow rate fixed at 20 liters per minute. The results indicate that iron oxide production for pigments is viable from phosphate rock tailings, since it was possible to produce magnetite concentrated with grades over 90% and magnetite recovery around 40%.