Preliminary Design Concentration of Talc by Emphasis on Mineralogy… 127

Preliminary Design Concentration of Talc by Emphasis

on Mineralogy in the Malhamdar Index Mine in Iran
A. Hajati
Department of Mining,
Iran University of Science and Technology, Arak Branch-Iran
E-mail: am_hajati@iustarak.ac.ir, am_hajati@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: Talc is one of the industrial minerals for paper, ceramic, paint, and textile, and rubber, plastic,
cosmetic and etc industry. Mineralogy is one the applied science for definition of minerals structure in
preliminary study at mineral processing engineering. By mineralogy, different aims are important. In this
research, actions of mineral are studies in sample talc of two indexes, Talc-Sheest and Talc-dolomite in the
Malhamdar village in around of Arak-Markazi state of Iran. The results of mineralogy studies are used in
design of preliminary flow sheet concentration. By know of paragons minerals and vary them (specific
gravity, breaking quality, chemical- physical surface, luster and etc) talc can separate of other minerals. In
this index mine, talc, chlorite, dolomite, quartz, feldspar, ferrous mineral are known and By XRF test it
consist MgO:(28–28.25)%, SiO2:(46.6–56)%, Al2O3:(2.36–8)%, CaO:(1.6–2.1)% and Fe2O3:(4–6)%. By
attention of mineralogy studies and use of especial variation minerals, such as sizing, gravity, magnetite and
etc, it able separation of talc. Finally, talc concentration arrived MgO: 30.5%, SiO2: 52.1%, Al2O3:5.12%,
CaO:0.72% and Fe2O3:5.01%.

Key Words: Mineralogy, Concentration, Gravity, Malhamdar, Talc.

1. INTRODUCTION processing methods, particle size, surface

There are important deposits of talc in China,
Australia, Itly, France, Canada, U.S. and other
countries. Talc, which is a soft, hydrous magne-
sium silicate (Mg3Si4O10(OH)2), is used in a wide
range of industries including the manufacture of
paint, paper, plastic medicine, cosmetic, ceramic,
rubber, face and talcum powder, fire proof
roofing, foundry facings, lubricants, linoleum and
oilcloth, electrical insulation and pottery. Foundry
is coming into being by lower heat
metamorphism at dolomites with silica and
separation of ultra basic rocks by hydrothermal
effects. Talc can be divided into two groups as
with magnesite and with carbonate. Talc includes
63.5% SiO2, 31.7% MgO and 4.8% H2O in ideal
compositions. Talc deposits generally contain
calcite, dolomite, chlorite, olivine, quartz,
serpentine, graphite, mica and etc [1].
The market potentials of the various talc
products depend on the surface properties of the
mineral, which in turn vary with the ore type,
treatment, (acid-base characterization, hydro-
phobic, hydrophilic, electro kinetic) [2].
Talc, as a mineral has unique surface
properties. Particles of talc have the shape of
platelets due to the layer structure of the mineral.
The hydrophobicity of the basal surfaces arises
from the fact that atoms exposed on the surface
are linked together by siloxane bonds and
hence, do not form strong hydrogen bonds with
water [3].
In many of industrial applications, this dual
surface property of the mineral plays an important
role.
The purpose of this study is to investigate
some effective parameters for Preliminary design
concentration of Talc by emphasis on mineralogy
to determine optimum conditions minerolography
in the Malhamdar index mine in Iran.
2. MINERALOGY STUDY
128  Mineral Processing Technology (MPT 2007)
Talc is a hydrated magnesium silicate whit
the theoretical formula Mg6[Si8O20](OH)4. The
chemical composition of talc found in nature,
however, is quite variable. It is an extremely soft
mineral and is rated No. 1 in Mohs’ scale of
hardness. It varies in color from snow-white to
greenish gray and various shades of green. Its
specific gravity ranges from 2.58 to 2.83. Talc
usually derives a secondary mineral by alteration
of other magnesium silicates such as serpentine,
pyroxene or siliceous dolomite. Talc deposit
can be classified into for major categories:
(a) Steatite-Compact, (b) Soft Platy talc,
(c) Tremolite talc and (d) Mixed talc ores.
Talc is a mineral that meets criteria of a
“sheet silicate” mineral. Its structure is like that of
pyrophyllite except that the octahedral sites in the
layers or sheets chemically pure talc is rarely
found in nature commercial quantities [4].
2.1 Geographical and Mineralogy
Case Study
The Malhamdar village talc district is aboat of
75 km long, into west of Arak in Markazy state of
Iran. This deposit is an exploration index and it’s
not very active. By this study, it’s goad for ready
and start of activity. In the Figure 1, it has shown
a vein of this deposit.
Fig. 1: A part of Malhamdar deposit vein
This talc’s deposit is secondary mineral
dolomite group. Some of associate minerals by
XRD analysis are chlorite, dolomite, iron oxide,
quartz and calcite. Ditto, by microscopy study this
result accepted. Talc utilities in the industry have
other minerals such as: pyrophyllite, seerpentine,
anthophyllite, chlorite, tremolite and actinolite.
Likewise, talc has different type, by attention of
mineralogy complex, shap visible, purity,
application of industry and etc. they are Steatite,
soap stone, path stone, Renslaerite, French chalk,
lava, filament and softness talc. By attention of
different application of talc, study of mineralogy
and knowledge of all suitable and gangue
minerals for concentration and separation of
gangue minerals are very important. For
investigation of size distribution and con-
centration of minerals after sampling of feed,
analyzed by screen in limit size of D1:(–10, +30
Mesh), D2:(–30, +120 Mesh), D3:(–120, +400
Mesh) and D4:(–400 Mesh). In figure 2, it has
shown talc and other minerals, that is accessory.
Fig. 2: Minerals of talc, chlorite, carbonate and
iron oxide at D2 size
Therefore, they are not liberated in large size.
After crushing sample and size distribution in
small size, it seems that, it has large degree of
liberation minerals.
Knowledge of minerals microscopy, relation
of between, size distribution, degree of liberation
and characteristic are important parameters into
core design separation process flow sheet.
2.2 Size distribution and Degree of
Liberation Study
Preliminary Design Concentration of Talc by Emphasis on Mineralogy… 129
In nature, valuable minerals occur together with chlorite and progenies of talc. Then a mount of
non-valuable species. Technological operation of Al2O3 remind on the >D1 screen.
the disjoining of valuable minerals from the rock
matrices is performed by inducing the 80

Distribution of component (%)

compressive failure of the ore fragments and 70

reducing the size of the fragments to the 60 MgO

dimensions ensuring the release of the majority of 50 SiO2

40 Al2O3
inclusions of the targeted mineral from the rock CaO
30
matrices of ores [5]. Thus, the ores are crushed 20
Fe2O3
and ground to fine sizes—to produce near single- 10
mineral particles of the two phases, thus liberating 0
the valuable phase from the gangue. >D1 D1 D2 D3 D4
Size limit
Degree of liberation of ore is one of the
important stages of ore processing for separation Fig. 4: Distribution of component weight
of gangue and minerals in greatest size possible. passing (%)
By this target, we will have the minimum rate of
crushing and reduction energy of use and 100

minimization of cost in the next stage and easily 90

of separation minerals. Then, before of separation 80

70
Comulative passing (%)

process by type deferent methods; it must be 60

completely dissociated by one and one. [6–7]. 50
40
Size distribution: The first stage, to determination 30
of degree of liberation minerals into the ore is size 20

classification. In figure 3 and 4 it has show, size 10

distribution analysis and components weight 0

passing percentage respectively. Coarse particle
production by caving materials in this index, is
almost 50 cm and d80 is 10.2 cm. nearly 60%
weight is size limit (1 mm–10.2 cm) and under
10% weight is less than 2 mm. forethought of this
results help for determination of rate crushing
feed by grinding equipment and very important to
design flow sheet processing of talc concentration.
Another aim of crushing sample in laboratory
test is, How distributed of minerals or
components of them by attention of limit size? By
this result, limit size that minerals concentrated
determined for suitable crushing and simplify of
separation process. The component of MgO and
SiO2 are showing of Talc. Another gangue
component is Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO and other things.
In Figure 4, percentage weight of CaO is
great 52% in size limit D2. It’s passing of >D1 and
concentrate on the D1. Then, it seems that by one
suitable screen (0.5–1) inch among of mineral
including of CaO will be removed. Almost, other
minerals crushed by both. Also, Al2O3 relation to
10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000
Size(Micron)
Fig. 3: Size distribution of feed in Malhamdar
index
Degree of liberation: Liberation size can be
determined by quantitative mineralogical test
work on size fractions of ground ore, although
this is considerably less common because it is
costly, time consuming, and often technically
difficult Liberation size is a function of the
relevant physical or chemical process and may
differ greatly between processes.
There are different methods base on minerals
property for the determination of degree of
liberation in laboratory test. There method can be
summarized: Image Analyzer, Heavy liquid and
Magnetite. In this research, the microscopic
particle accounting method is chosen for the
defining of degree of liberation talc and other
minerals. Relatively, this method is subtle of
determination degree of liberation and action of
mineralogy that duo to liberation of minerals by
130  Mineral Processing Technology (MPT 2007)
reduce of size particle, structure of texture
minerals, size of minerals, hardness and other
things. By knowledge of these results, it will be
help for analysis of design separation process in
low coast operation and simplify flow sheet. In
figure 5 it has shown degree of liberation minerals
of Malhamdar index deposit.
100
90
Degree of Liberation (%)
80
70
60
50
40
> D1 D1 D2
Size Limit
Fig. 5: Flow diagram of degree of liberation
minerals in Malhamdar index
By attention of Fig. 5, Iron oxide minerals in
coarse particle and carbonate minerals (calcite
and dolomite) in fine particle have large degree of
liberation. In size limit D2 (120 Mesh) they have
great of 80% liberation. To attend of slop
liberation talc and chlorite, talc has a larger
amount and slop than chlorite.
There are many Hematite and Goethite
minerals to cover the over minerals and dispersed
all off them. All of minerals in great of 400 mesh
have large than 90% liberation. By this result, iron
oxide mineral must be crushed under size of 400
mesh, until we can separated them in other mineral.
3. APPLICATION OF MINERALOGY IN
FLOWSHEET DESIGN OF TALC
One of the determine parameters in mineral
processing design is investigation and study of ore
condition in mineralogy and microscopic. Then
mineral process engineer must be accurate in
complex blending in parts of process. A lot of
case study, only knowledge of grade is not
enough, and must be determined kind of chemical
component of minerals or metals in part of
concentrate and tailing process. By microscopy
study on thin or polished sections we will have
capacity percentage, entering, size and kind of
minerals and other things. Microscopy study is
very important to determined methods of
separation, increase of grade and recovery, control
type of minerals in concentrate and tailing,
correction of line process, control efficiency of
equipment, change of process and other things.
Finally, applications of mineralogy in different
methods of ore dressing talc in design flow sheet
are in: Run of Mine, Milling, Separation and
Production.
Talc
Chlorite
Quartz 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Dolomite&Calsite
After investigation and study, analysis of samples
Iron minerals
by XRD and microscopy, drawn of curves and
D3 D4 other operation, results are:
1. Carbonate minerals have more slop of
crushing and degree of liberation.
2. By screen size of (0.5–1) inch, CaO minerals
can remove in first stage.
3. Talc mineral has more degree of liberation at
compare by chlorite.
4. Iron oxide minerals are fine crystal and
dispersed on the covering of other minerals
and they have uniform of slop in degree of
liberation.
5. Large size of sample feed is almost 50 cm
and D80 is 10.5 cm. nearly 60% weight is size
limit (1 mm –10.2 cm) and under 10%
weight is less than 2 mm.
6. By attention of these results, it seems that
continues of exploration and complete of
them and mineral processing of Malmamdar
talc is justify.
REFERENCE
[1] Jones, M.P, Applied mineralogy: a quantitative
approach, Alden press, 1987
[2] Hajati, A., et al, determination of degree of
liberation zinc and iron oxide minerals in
Goshfill mine, mining engineering conference,
Iran, 2004.
[3] Ciullo, P.A., in: Industrial Minerals and Their
Uses-A Handbook and Formulary, Ed: P.A.
Cuillo, Noyes Publications, New Jersey, 1996.
[4] Industrial minerals and rocks, 1994.
Preliminary Design Concentration of Talc by Emphasis on Mineralogy… 131
[5] Shena, G. and Chiaruttini, C., a stereological [6] Hajati, A., Khodadadi, A., Koleini, S.M., The
posed mass balance for calculating the distributed Study of degree of liberation of Zinc and Iron
efficiency of particle separation systems. Oxide Minerals Ore In bama Goshfill Mine,
International Journal of Mineral Processing 59 2, MP3-2003 Conference, Goa-India, 2003.
pp. 149-162, 2000. [7] Nematollahi, H., Mineral processing, Tehran
University, IRAN, 1990.