The document discusses the importance of ore sorting in spodumene plant design. It provides a simplified flow diagram of a lithium project and notes that the spodumene veins in Quebec are thin, so waste rock can end up in the ore, agglomerating in the kiln. It also discusses how feed grade and waste rock content can impact flotation results, with higher waste decreasing maximum concentrate grade since some waste minerals have similar flotation responses to spodumene. Finally, it outlines Nemaska's ore sorting process using DMS to remove coarse muscovite and reduce waste before further processing.
The document discusses the importance of ore sorting in spodumene plant design. It provides a simplified flow diagram of a lithium project and notes that the spodumene veins in Quebec are thin, so waste rock can end up in the ore, agglomerating in the kiln. It also discusses how feed grade and waste rock content can impact flotation results, with higher waste decreasing maximum concentrate grade since some waste minerals have similar flotation responses to spodumene. Finally, it outlines Nemaska's ore sorting process using DMS to remove coarse muscovite and reduce waste before further processing.
The document discusses the importance of ore sorting in spodumene plant design. It provides a simplified flow diagram of a lithium project and notes that the spodumene veins in Quebec are thin, so waste rock can end up in the ore, agglomerating in the kiln. It also discusses how feed grade and waste rock content can impact flotation results, with higher waste decreasing maximum concentrate grade since some waste minerals have similar flotation responses to spodumene. Finally, it outlines Nemaska's ore sorting process using DMS to remove coarse muscovite and reduce waste before further processing.
The document discusses the importance of ore sorting in spodumene plant design. It provides a simplified flow diagram of a lithium project and notes that the spodumene veins in Quebec are thin, so waste rock can end up in the ore, agglomerating in the kiln. It also discusses how feed grade and waste rock content can impact flotation results, with higher waste decreasing maximum concentrate grade since some waste minerals have similar flotation responses to spodumene. Finally, it outlines Nemaska's ore sorting process using DMS to remove coarse muscovite and reduce waste before further processing.
Due to low grade, the kiln ended up The spodumene veins are thin, waste agglomerating (host rock ended up in the ore)
// 5 Flotation Analysis Method
⁄ Where: • C = is the performance value (with lower values showing better performance) • G = is the grade • GMax = is the maximum grade • R = is the recovery • RMax = is the maximum recovery
Grade Recovery Curve with curve fitting from A. van der Spek and C. Okeefe’s 2014 IMPC paper ‘Rating Cumulative Grade and Recovery Data’
// 6 Impact of Waste on Flotation Results ⁄ Benchmarking 121 laboratory test results with Li feed grade ranging from 0.79 ~ 1.78 it was found that reagent type, reagent dosage, flotation pH, conditioning % solids, conditioning time all had impacts on the performance (i.e. the ‘c’ value). ⁄ Feed grade had an influence on the maximum concentrate grade (i.e. the ‘GMax’ value). As there was more spodumene in the feed, there was less waste rock. Some of the waste rock minerals had a very similar flotation response as Spodumene and reports to the concentrate.
// 7 Lithium Projects in Quebec
Nemaska
// Coarse Muscovite Removal DMS
Rough DMS Floats Cleaner DMS Floats
DMS Hydraulic Screen Screen Separator Rougher Fine Ore Stockpile Cyclone #1 Fine Ore Hopper Coarse Muscovite Removal Screen Cleaner Middlings Bin Fine Ore Belt Cyclone Feeder
DMS Feed Cleaner DMS Middlings Belt Feeder
Dewatering Screen Rough DMS Sinks Sinks Screen Screen DMS Feed Bin Fine Ore Screen
Dewatering Concentrate Cyclone & Tailings Thickener Spodumene Screen Thickener Conditioning Concentrate Belt Filter Tank # 1 x 4 Cleaner Flotation Tailings Concentrate Column Hydroflotation Fine Holding Holding Tank Vibrating Screen Tank Tailings Storage Conveyor Tailings Belt Spodumene Filter Hydroflotation Concentrate Storage Conveyor Spodumene Conditioning Tank #2 x4 Concentrate Stockpile Tailings Stockpile
// Waste (“Dilution Material”) Impact on DMS
From: Wills, Barry A., and James A. Finch. Wills' mineral processing technology: an introduction to the practical aspects of ore treatment and mineral recovery. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2015.
// 13 Why No Ore Sorters in Australian Spodumene Plants? 25 m width
Nemaska
⁄ Australians deposits, to date, have been bigger and lie in ground in a way that allows for less mine dilution.
// 14 Ore Sorting Design Considerations So you’re thinking about ore sorting… now what?
⁄ Sensor: What sensor technology gives best results? (XRT? XRF? Color? NIR? IR? or other) ⁄ Type: Do we use a belt-type or chute-type sorter? ⁄ Feed: What is the throughput and feed size? ⁄ Selection: How does this limit equipment selection & quantity? ⁄ Limits: What limitations and optimizations to consider?
⁄ No fines (10mm minimum) or slimes (clean surface);
⁄ 3-to-1 ratio of feed material is required;
⁄ XRT has size limitation due to signal attenuation;
⁄ Sorters can only handle a mono-layer of rock...
// 17 Feed Size and Throughput… What does this mean for my ore sorting circuit?
⁄ No fines (10mm minimum) or slimes (clean surface);
Must screen ore sorter feed to remove fines (-10mm or -20mm bypass) Wet screening required for surface techniques ⁄ 3-to-1 ratio of feed material is required; Example screening 1: -180+60mm to coarse sorting, -60+20mm to fine sorting Example screening 2: -210+80mm to coarse, -80+40mm to medium, -40+15mm to fine ⁄ XRT has size limitation due to signal attenuation; Top-size screening & recrush of +150/180 mm material required
⁄ Sorters can only handle a mono-layer of rock...
Max feed tonnage is proportional to average rock diameter squared! Coarse sorting may handle 100-200tph while fine sorting can only do 20-40tph
// 18 How does this look? 2-Stage Optical Example
// 19 How does this look? 2-Stage Optical Example
18m x 24m footprint
>30m tall
// 20 How does this look? 2-Stage Optical Example
// 21 *Note this model is illustrative only & incomplete How does this look? Single Stage XRT Example
14m x 24m footprint, ~17m tall
~70 x 50 m additional pad
// 22 How does this look? Single Stage XRT Example
14m x 24m footprint, ~17m tall
~70 x 50 m additional pad
// 23 Limitations, Optimization, and Hidden Costs ⁄ SIZE: Large footprint to properly prepare and transfer feed or tall building (2-stage >30m!);
⁄ VIBRATIONS: Ore sorters require low vibrations in steel structure but also require screening (vibrations!) – isolation frames on screens can reduce steel requirements;
⁄ FEED: Feed presentation to the unit is crucial (low energy – no bounce)
⁄ DISCHARGE: Reversible / Selectable discharge conveyors can Selectable Discharge
save on Opex if variable ejection rates are expected (from mine plan); Feed
Sorter ⁄ AIR: Sorting is performed with compressed air- air requirement proportional to mass ejection;
Waste ⁄ BYPASS: Must be able to tolerate some fines bypass; Accepts // 24 Thank you
// 25 Photo credit: North American Lithium, Linkedin.com/company/north-american-lithium
