Evaluation of Efficiency of Using Mechanized Processing Techniques to Recover Tin and Tantalum in Gatsibo, Eastern Province, Rwanda

Rwanda is known to be among the top producers of tin and tantalum, despite having low recovery grades. This study was carried out evaluate efficiency using mechanized methods increase rate grades tantalum mined in Gatsibo, Eastern Province, Rwanda, since general separation techniques used are artisanal. The minerals those mines include cassiterite (SnO2) colombite–tantalite ((Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)2O5), with impurities such as Al2O3, Fe2O3, MnO, MgO, Cao, Na2O, K2O, TiO2, P2O5. A combination gravity techniques, including shaking tables magnetic separation, were processing techniques. results compared obtained by artisanal proposed found from 60.75% 81.85% 22.9% 48.57%, respectively, increased 63.75% 35.7%, respectively. Based on these results, recycling waste highly recommended.