Scheelite Gravity Separation and Flotation Process Introduction

Scheelite is a calcium tungstate mineral with the chemical formula CaWO4. It is an important tungsten ore mineral, commonly found in hydrothermal veins and skarns. Scheelite has a high specific gravity and is therefore amenable to gravity separation, while it can also be floated using various flotation methods.

The scheelite gravity separation process is mainly used to separate scheelite from gangue minerals, such as calcite, fluorite, and apatite. The process typically involves crushing the ore to a certain particle size range, followed by gravity separation using a shaking table, jig, or spiral chute. The scheelite concentrate obtained by gravity separation can have a high tungsten grade (up to 65%) and a low silica content.

The scheelite flotation process is a common method for separating scheelite from other minerals. In this process, the scheelite is first ground to a certain particle size range, typically finer than 0.074 mm. Then, a collector (such as fatty acids, sodium oleate, or benzohydroxamic acid) is added to the slurry to selectively attach to scheelite particles. Next, a frother (such as pine oil or MIBC) is added to the slurry to generate froth, which carries the attached scheelite particles to the surface for recovery.

There are also combined scheelite beneficiation processes, which combine gravity separation and flotation to achieve a better recovery and higher tungsten grade. In one such process, the scheelite ore is first pre-concentrated by gravity separation, then the gravity concentrate is further treated by flotation to obtain a high-grade scheelite concentrate.

The choice of scheelite beneficiation process depends on the characteristics of the ore, such as its mineralogy, particle size, and grade, as well as the desired product specifications. The advantages and disadvantages of each method should be considered when selecting the appropriate beneficiation process. For example, the gravity separation process is simple and low cost, but it may not be suitable for low-grade or fine-grained ores. Flotation, on the other hand, is more complex and expensive, but can achieve a higher recovery and concentrate grade.

In conclusion, the scheelite gravity separation and flotation processes are commonly used for scheelite beneficiation. The selection of the appropriate process depends on the specific characteristics of the ore and the desired product specifications.