Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements (IMGRE) (Moscow, Russia):

Levchenko E. N., Deputy General Director, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, lev_imgre@rambler.ru

Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of RAS (IGEM RAS) (Moscow, Russia):
Lalomov A. V., Leading Researcher, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences
Grigor'eva A. V., Senior Researcher, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences

Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry of RAS (GEOKHI RAS) (Moscow, Russia):
Zaitsev V. A., Senior Researcher, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences

Loparite is a critical strategic raw material used to manufacture rare metal concentrates and oxides of rare earth metals, the availability of which largely drives the scientific and technical levels of industrial development and related innovative technologies. Lovozero Mining and Processing Plant on the Kola Peninsula, the only production site for rare metal concentrates in Russia, is experiencing a number of mining problems, which calls for a study of any possible alternative sources. A group of loparite placers of nepheline syenites of the Lovozero alkaline massif, having unique genesis and mineral composition, may be regarded as an important source of rare metals for the Russian Federation. The problem with developing these deposits is largely due to the lack of an effective processing technology for placer-type producing formation deposits. The article presents new results of a processing and mineralogical study for the deposits of the Sergevan site of the Revda placer located at the northern edge of the Lovozero massif. In the study, a small mineralogical and process sample taken from the producing deposits of the placer was used to analyze their grain-size distribution and mineral composition and study the chemical composition of the loparite. First of all, –0.8+0.045 mm granular deposits suitable for gravity concentration were studied, with their mass fraction in the composition of the producing formation of approximately 50 %. These deposits may be efficiently and cost-effectively processed using the gravity/magnetic process with the separation of a complex of heavy minerals into the rough concentrate at the first stage and subsequent two-stage magnetic separation. This enables producing industrial loparite concentrates for the rare metal industry of Russia.
This work was conducted with the support of the State Assignment of IGEM RAS and GEOKHI RAS.

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