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South Africa has massive Platinum Group Metal (PGM) deposits found in Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC). Due to depletion of Merensky reef, many companies are now treating UG2 reef which has a high chromite content which has negative impact in the smelting process of the platinum concentrates. Generally, PGMs are processed by rougher followed by cleaner and re-cleaner flotation banks and the final concentrate must contain less than 3% chromite. The effect of residence time and depressant dosage on PGM recovery and ch...

Froth flotation process has shown superiority in processing of many low-grade ores including iron ores. However, there is need to continue developing cheap, more selective and environmentally friendly reagents. Due to the shortage of high-grade iron ores, many companies in South Africa and other countries are currently working on the beneficiation of low-grade ores and retreatment of tailings. In this paper, the performance of Macadamia oil as a frother on the flotation of low-grade iron ore was investigated. The ...

Due to depletion of high-grade ores, high cost of mining and environmental issues, many mines have reverted to retreatment of slags. The recovery of Nickel from reverberatory furnace slag using sulfurization and flotation was studied. Critical parameters such as sulfurization temperature, sulfurization agent (Gypsum containing 86.87% CaSO4) dosage and time were investigated for the sulfurization process and effect of collector type and dosage, pH, particle size and flotation time for the flotation process. It was ...

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 o...

Many low grade iron ore deposits which were previously ignored are being treated due to depletion of high grade iron ore deposits. Haematite flotation concentrate from a reverse flotation of fluorspar tailings was characterised and agglomerated using bentonite and coke. The effect of bentonite and coke concentrations on mechanical strength and metallurgical characteristics of the wet and baked pellets was investigated. It was found that the concentrate contained 60.5% Fe, 4.24% silica and other minor elements. Maj...

South Africa host massive deposits of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) in the Igneous Bushveld Complex. These deposits have been mined for a long time and in the process Mine sludge has been produced. It has been piled up and there is need to recover PGMs locked in it. The conventional way of processing PGMs has proved to be very difficult due to ultra-fines in the sludge that causes major loses during flotation. An alternative hydrometallurgical process for recovery of PGMs from a mine sludge by leaching using a mixt...