Alternative beneficiation of tantalite and removal of radioactive oxides from Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores

The beneficiation methods for Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores were assessed through mineralogical and quantitative analyses with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The tantalite in the upper zone of the Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene deposit is 58.7wt...

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Main Authors: Gebreyohannes, B., del Rosario Alberto, V., Yimam, A., Woldetinsae, G., Tadesse, Bogale
Format: Journal Article
Published: Beijing Keji Daxue 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/54369
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author Gebreyohannes, B.
del Rosario Alberto, V.
Yimam, A.
Woldetinsae, G.
Tadesse, Bogale
author_facet Gebreyohannes, B.
del Rosario Alberto, V.
Yimam, A.
Woldetinsae, G.
Tadesse, Bogale
author_sort Gebreyohannes, B.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The beneficiation methods for Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores were assessed through mineralogical and quantitative analyses with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The tantalite in the upper zone of the Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene deposit is 58.7wt% higher than that in the inner zone. XRD analysis revealed that the upper zone is dominated by manganocolumbite, whereas the inner zone is predominantly tantalite-Mn. Repeated cleaning and beneficiation of the upper-zone ore resulted in concentrate compositions of 57.34wt% of Ta 2 O 5 and 5.41wt% of Nb 2 O 5 . Washing the tantalite concentrates using 1vol% KOH and 1 M H 2 SO 4 led to the removal of thorium and uranium radioactive oxides from the concentrate. The findings of this study suggest that the beneficiation and alkaline washing of Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores produce a high-grade export-quality tantalite concentrate with negligible radioactive oxides.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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last_indexed 2025-11-14T09:58:33Z
publishDate 2017
publisher Beijing Keji Daxue
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-543692017-09-13T16:12:07Z Alternative beneficiation of tantalite and removal of radioactive oxides from Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores Gebreyohannes, B. del Rosario Alberto, V. Yimam, A. Woldetinsae, G. Tadesse, Bogale The beneficiation methods for Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores were assessed through mineralogical and quantitative analyses with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The tantalite in the upper zone of the Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene deposit is 58.7wt% higher than that in the inner zone. XRD analysis revealed that the upper zone is dominated by manganocolumbite, whereas the inner zone is predominantly tantalite-Mn. Repeated cleaning and beneficiation of the upper-zone ore resulted in concentrate compositions of 57.34wt% of Ta 2 O 5 and 5.41wt% of Nb 2 O 5 . Washing the tantalite concentrates using 1vol% KOH and 1 M H 2 SO 4 led to the removal of thorium and uranium radioactive oxides from the concentrate. The findings of this study suggest that the beneficiation and alkaline washing of Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores produce a high-grade export-quality tantalite concentrate with negligible radioactive oxides. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/54369 10.1007/s12613-017-1456-8 Beijing Keji Daxue restricted
spellingShingle Gebreyohannes, B.
del Rosario Alberto, V.
Yimam, A.
Woldetinsae, G.
Tadesse, Bogale
Alternative beneficiation of tantalite and removal of radioactive oxides from Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores
title Alternative beneficiation of tantalite and removal of radioactive oxides from Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores
title_full Alternative beneficiation of tantalite and removal of radioactive oxides from Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores
title_fullStr Alternative beneficiation of tantalite and removal of radioactive oxides from Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores
title_full_unstemmed Alternative beneficiation of tantalite and removal of radioactive oxides from Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores
title_short Alternative beneficiation of tantalite and removal of radioactive oxides from Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores
title_sort alternative beneficiation of tantalite and removal of radioactive oxides from ethiopian kenticha pegmatite–spodumene ores
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/54369