Determination of Minerals of Cassiterite Tailings and its Recycling Potential Using Empirical Method at Plateau State Nigeria

Abstract

The mineral potential of cassiterite fines from tailing dumps in the Jos Tin Mining Community Resource Centre (MCRC), Plateau State Nigeria, were studied through a wet concentration process and dry electrostatic and magnetic processes and then evaluated using empirical evidence. Three samples of the tailing dumps with the size of mineral smaller than 5 mm were collected at random through the “Tin Mining Community Resource Centre”. The huge pile of the tailing dumps may have an environmental impact in the area, so they need to be treated and recovered for the valuable heavy minerals and sand tailing for the local construction industry. The grade of the average tailing dumps as analyzed using XRF were 2.08% Sn, 3.51% Nb, 25.5% Fe, 14.91%Ti, 8.36% Zr, 12.99% Al, and 45.68% Si. The percentage compositions of the cassiterite tailings were expressed to its simplest genetic mineral forms using an empirical formula. The genetic mineral forms were ilmenite, zircon and sand. Since ilmenite has the highest concentration in the cassiterite tailings and the highest economic values, then recycling of ilmenite should be ascertained. After the wet processing by the screen, hydro cyclone, spiral concentrator, and shaking table, the concentrate consists the most of, ilmenite, zircon, and sand. The following dry processes used rotary dryer, screening, electrostatic separator, magnetic separator to separate cassiterite from the heavy minerals and sand. The final iron and titanium concentrate can be upgraded to 72% Fe and Ti using certain reagents such as fluoride acids which can be sold to the Iron ore smelting plant.