Ural State Mining University (Ekaterinburg, Russia):

Tsypin E. F., Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, gmf.opi@ursmu.ru
Efremova T. A., Postgraduate Student
Ovchinnikova T. Yu., Associate Professor, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, tt2979@yandex.ru

Ural State University of Economics (Ekaterinburg, Russia):

Elizarov D. B., Associate Professor, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

The effectiveness of preliminary ore concentration using X-ray radiometric separation largely depends on the ore conditioning system and parameters selected. Determination of the number of material grades and respective delimitation criteria represents an important factor in proper process flow selection. This paper investigates the effects of the number of material grades identified on the efficiency of preliminary copper-lead-zinc ore dressing. The performance of X-ray radiometric separation is evaluated by the yield of separation tailings under specific limitations on the content of valuable components in separation tailings. In the course of the experiments, the samples were graded with successive shifts in boundary values for the delimitation parameter. The delimitation parameter was represented by the spectral ratio of the total number of pulses in the energy X-ray spectral regions of copper, zinc and lead to the number of pulses in the region of dissipated X-ray radiation. With an increase in the number of material grades, the yield of pre-dressing tailings increases. Delimitation into two grades results in a sharp increase in the total yield of separation tailings. Differentiation into three grades additionally increases the yield of tailings, but to a lesser extent. In addition, the increment value for the total tailings yield at changes in the number of material grades is affected by the level of limitations imposed on the content of components in the tailings. For the ore studied, it is recommended that two or three grades be used. In general, the number of grades and respective delimitation boundaries shall be selected on the basis of the limitations assumed for the contents of all valuable components, the level of which must be specified with account of the economic analysis data.

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