The beneficiation of lithium minerals from hard rock ores: A review

The demand for lithium minerals has increased considerably in recent years due to the application of lithium compounds in lithium ion battery technology, portable electronic gadgets and power storage systems. Spodumene is the main lithium bearing mineral which is currently being explored and process...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tadesse, Bogale, Makuei, F., Albijanic, Boris, Dyer, Laurence
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier 2019
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/72595
_version_ 1848762792101806080
author Tadesse, Bogale
Makuei, F.
Albijanic, Boris
Dyer, Laurence
author_facet Tadesse, Bogale
Makuei, F.
Albijanic, Boris
Dyer, Laurence
author_sort Tadesse, Bogale
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The demand for lithium minerals has increased considerably in recent years due to the application of lithium compounds in lithium ion battery technology, portable electronic gadgets and power storage systems. Spodumene is the main lithium bearing mineral which is currently being explored and processed due to its high lithium content and the extensive occurrence of deposits. This literature review focuses on the various techniques used in the beneficiation of lithium minerals from hard rock pegmatite ores. Dense media separation and flotation are the main beneficiation methods used for the separation of lithium minerals from ores. The close similarity in chemical and physical properties between lithium minerals and associated gangue minerals complicates the beneficiation of lithium minerals from ores. Surface chemistry of minerals, type of collector, pulp pH, chemical pre-treatment methods, and the presence of slimes play key roles in lithium minerals flotation. This review also deals with the beneficiation flowsheets employed at some of the larger lithium processing plants in the world. Spodumene from pegmatite deposits is expected to be the main source of lithium from ores at present although future sources would most probably include other minerals such as lepidolite, petalite, zinnwaldite, jadarite and hectorite.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T10:53:11Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-72595
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T10:53:11Z
publishDate 2019
publisher Elsevier
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-725952019-02-05T05:26:37Z The beneficiation of lithium minerals from hard rock ores: A review Tadesse, Bogale Makuei, F. Albijanic, Boris Dyer, Laurence The demand for lithium minerals has increased considerably in recent years due to the application of lithium compounds in lithium ion battery technology, portable electronic gadgets and power storage systems. Spodumene is the main lithium bearing mineral which is currently being explored and processed due to its high lithium content and the extensive occurrence of deposits. This literature review focuses on the various techniques used in the beneficiation of lithium minerals from hard rock pegmatite ores. Dense media separation and flotation are the main beneficiation methods used for the separation of lithium minerals from ores. The close similarity in chemical and physical properties between lithium minerals and associated gangue minerals complicates the beneficiation of lithium minerals from ores. Surface chemistry of minerals, type of collector, pulp pH, chemical pre-treatment methods, and the presence of slimes play key roles in lithium minerals flotation. This review also deals with the beneficiation flowsheets employed at some of the larger lithium processing plants in the world. Spodumene from pegmatite deposits is expected to be the main source of lithium from ores at present although future sources would most probably include other minerals such as lepidolite, petalite, zinnwaldite, jadarite and hectorite. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/72595 10.1016/j.mineng.2018.11.023 Elsevier restricted
spellingShingle Tadesse, Bogale
Makuei, F.
Albijanic, Boris
Dyer, Laurence
The beneficiation of lithium minerals from hard rock ores: A review
title The beneficiation of lithium minerals from hard rock ores: A review
title_full The beneficiation of lithium minerals from hard rock ores: A review
title_fullStr The beneficiation of lithium minerals from hard rock ores: A review
title_full_unstemmed The beneficiation of lithium minerals from hard rock ores: A review
title_short The beneficiation of lithium minerals from hard rock ores: A review
title_sort beneficiation of lithium minerals from hard rock ores: a review
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/72595