Processing and Refining of Tin Tailing Mining

Abstract

Exploration and production of tin massively has an impact in the quantity of tailing production. The tailing contains various strategic metal-carrying minerals, namely monazite, xenotime, zircon and ilmenite. By the right process, these minerals can be purified into high-value metals such as rare earth elements, Zr and Ti. The research purpose is conducting a study towards processing and refining technology of tin tailing. The study was performed by analyzing the composition of Bangka tin tailing using XRF. Based on these information, flow diagram of processing and refining technology of monazite to Ce2O3, La2O3 and concentrated Nd(OH)3; xenotime to concentrated Y2O3; zircon to ZrO2; and ilmenite to TiO2 have been generated. The result showed that processing and refining of tin tailing mining contained mineral monazite, xenotime, zircon and ilmenite could be carried out. However, it is still necessary to further develop the process by giving highly attention to the economic concept.