Optimization of magnetic separation of hematite contained in the depressed product from vazante mine s zinc ore flotation

The mining industry has seen a significant decline in mill feed grade recent years, resulting an ongoing build-up of materials not recovered at the mineral processing plants whose economic value yet been determined. Tailings dams have preferred method disposal such materials. However, dam breach events and growing demand for goods enhanced appeal more effective use mined to prevent tailings accumulation reduce social environmental impacts, line with environmental, governance (ESG) principles that most companies adopted. Different techniques can be used recover economically valuable minerals contained materials, among which magnetic separation stands out reasons cost, production capacity, developments new equipment matrices wet high-intensity separators. outcome includes gains grade, recovery yield. This paper assessed matrix developed by company Gaustec, called BigFlux, depressed product from flotation process Nexa Resources’s Vazante mine. Laboratory-scale tests were conducted using standard optimized matrix. For 59% iron concentrate, metallurgical reached 72.6%, up 4% figure matrix, thus indicating improve magnetite studied material.