Institute of Mineral Resources, University of Geological Sciences (Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan):

Kholikov A. B., Director, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, akholikov@yandex.ru
Badalov F. A., Head of Laboratory, frenk_ru@mail.ru
Asabaev D. Kh., Scientific Secretary, dilshodasabaev@gmail.com

The purpose of the work is to study the processing properties of the serpentinites and develop a respective cost-effective processing technology. The material composition of the serpentinites was studied using the spectral, chemical, optical emission spectral, grainsize distribution, and mineralogical analysis methods. According to the chemical analysis results, the serpentinite sample of the Amandara occurrence has the following composition: SiO₂ at 39.54 wt%; Fe₂O₃ at 7.50 wt%; FeO at 0.68 wt%; Al₂O₃ at 0.69 wt%; CaO at 0.35 wt%; MgO at 37.28 wt%; LOI at 13.0 wt%. The sample material composition study and the analysis of reference sources have suggested the use of gravity and electromagnetic separation methods to process the serpentinites. Following the comprehensive studies, a process was developed for obtaining a magnesium-containing product through combined processing, yielding products containing MgO at 41.9 wt.% and Fe₂O₃ at 44.24 wt%. The resulting iron-containing product meets the requirements of standard O’z DSt 2950:2015 «Raw materials for the production of Portland cement clinker. Specifications» and the ferruginous marking requirements. The magnesiumcontaining product obtained may be used to manufacture refractory bricks and as a primary material for the manufacture of high-purity magnesium products. The technology for obtaining magnesium- and iron-containing products based on comprehensive processing of serpentinites of the Amandara occurrence has been introduced at SUE «Regionalgeologiya». The preliminary feasibility studies for the serpentinite processing technology developed, conducted at an annual concentrator capacity of 300,000 tons, have demonstrated an economic efficiency of $18.9 million.

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