Mining University (Russia):

Sizyakov V. M., Head of Chair

Dubovikov O. A., Associate Professor

Andreev Ye. Ye., Associate Professor, opiopi@bk.ru

Nikolaeva N. V., Lecturer, opiopi@bk.ru

The Russian alumina sector development is directed toward the national raw material sources that significantly differ by main characteristics from the raw material base, upon which the world alumina industry is developing. The only deposit of highgrade bauxites in the Urals, due to transition to deeper mining horizons, produces raw material with higher content of detrimental impurities. It means that lowgrade bauxites from the Middle Timan and Northern Onega deposits will be more actively involved in processing. The known methods of industrial processing of this type of raw material — sintering and the Bayer-sintering process — are characterized by complexity, high capital and operating costs. With regard to highsilica-bauxites, a large number of studies have been performed in recent years, directed to investigation of the raw material processing methods, improvement of the Bayer-sintering process, development of a new hydrometallurgical method of processing. The studies on mechanical beneficiation of bauxites did not produce any positive results so far, and the development of the new hydrometallurgical process encountered essential difficulties related to equipment. One of the alternative methods of bauxites chemical processing is desiliconization of preliminary roasted bauxite by alkaline solution. In spite of high energy inputs, roasting permits to condition bauxite raw material by a variety of process detrimental impurities, such as organic matter, sulfide sulfur, carbonates. By way of example of the Northern Onega highsilica chrome-bearing bauxites, a positive role of roasting in their processing is shown. As an alternative, the data pertaining to their conditioning by partial removal of chrome-bearing minerals into magnetic fraction are presented.

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