Separation of Radioactive Elements from Ethiopian Kenticha Pegmatite Ore by Hydrometallurgical Methods

Physical beneficiation of heavy minerals – Part 2: A state of the art literature review on magnetic and electrostatic concentration techniques

“…These physical separators can either operate with low or high magnetic field intensities [ 9 , 48 , 49 ]. There have been several reports that the gradient of magnetic field is not considered in this situation; and hence, one can say that the high intensity magnetic separators (HIMS) may generate high magnetic field gradient and usually referred to as high gradient magnetic equipment; whilst low intensity magnetic separators (LIMS) may be referred to as low gradient magnetic equipment, and generates low magnetic field gradient [ [9] , [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] ]. Nonetheless, this rule may have some exceptions.…”

Physical beneficiation of heavy minerals – Part 1: A state of the art literature review on gravity concentration techniques

“…For instance, the penta-oxide compounds of Nb and Ta metallic elements (Nb 2 O 5 and Ta 2 O 5 , respectively) are located mainly in certain complex hydroxide or oxide ores of primary HMs like columbite/tantalite (coltan), cassiterite, pyrochlore, microlite, and euxenite, etc. as their principal primary sources and HM ores [ 7 , 9 , 11 , [15] , [16] , [17] ]. However, columbite and tantalite minerals are the most essential primary HM ore sources of niobium and tantalum and also regarded as their main industrial and production sources [ 6 , 7 , 11 , 18 ].…”

“…Howbeit, this does not only contribute to beneficiation difficulties, increased mineral beneficiation steps and processing costs but also contributes to the increase in health and safety risks/hazards as well as environmental problems. The possibility and risk of human and environment exposure to the radiation generated by these radioactive materials may pose major concerns and challenges in ore handling, storage, transporting, mineral processing and beneficiation, and also in the waste tailings/gangue disposal [ 7 , 11 , 16 , 18 , 28 ].…”