Beneficiation of cassiterite from primary tin ores using gravity and magnetic separation

Abstract

Alluvial tin ore deposit of PT. Timah is predicted to be depleted in the next 5 to 10 years. Finding a new source of tin ore is important for the company's sustainability. PT. Timah has been exploring for primary tin ore. Tin (Sn) content in primary tin ore ranges from 0.2 - 1.0%. The Sn particles liberated in the cassiterite mineral are above 50% so they can be processed by the physical separation method. This research aims to observe the beneficiation of cassiterite from primary tin ore (oxide and skarn samples) using gravity and magnetic separation. The cassiterite concentrate produced from the beneficiation process is expected to be used as feed for the smelting process. Beneficiation results of primary tin ore (oxide and skarn samples) showed that cassiterite (SnO2) content were 15.09% and 40.03%, respectively and the recovery was 42.9% and 11.87%, respectively. The cassiterite concentrate produced from the beneficiation process cannot be used to feed the smelting process.