Mining Institute of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Apatity, Murmansk region, Russia:

Tereshchenko S. V., Head of Laboratory, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, tereshchenko@goi.kolasc.net.ru
Marchevskaya V. V., Leading Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, Associate Professor, vvm@goi.kolasc.net.ru
Shibaeva D. N., Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Petrozavodsk State University (Petrozavodsk, Russia):
Aminov V. N., Head of Chair, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

The example of apatite-nepheline ores of the Oleniy Ruchey deposit is used to demonstrate the environmental and process-design advantages of the technology that envisages the application of the quality management method for ores entering the concentrating plant based on the principle of separation. It is shown that the use of radiometric coarse separation at the initial processing stage ensures removal of over 30 % of rock refuse of increased strength from the ore mass of both low-grade and run-of-mine apatite-nepheline ores. It was found that removal of barren rock containing less than 1% of phosphorus pentoxide during the X-ray luminescence separation process, as compared to the existing basic option, allows reducing the energy consumption for crushing and grinding processes by 40 % and 5 %, respectively, per 1 ton of ore processed; increasing the content of phosphorus pentoxide in the ore by 1.5 and increasing the ratio of the contents of apatite and other calcium-containing minerals by 1.8, which contributes to increased selectivity of apatite flotation; improving the yield of apatite concentrate by 39–55 % rel. and reducing the amount of flotation tailings by 5–19 % rel. per 1 ton of ore processed; as well as extending the service life of the tailings storage facility by 1.4–1.9, depending on the production output. It is shown that coarse rock tailings sorted out in the process of X-ray luminescence separation may be disposed of as rubble in the construction of bases for permanent road surfaces, pavements and bases for pedestrian roads and grounds, as well as in landscaping and land improvement.

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