PROCESS TEST WORK FOR THE RECOVERY OF TANTALITE – COLUMBITE CONCENTRATES FROM RARE METAL BEARING PEGMATITES OF NASSARAWA AREA, CENTRAL NIGERIA

The Nassarawa Pegmatoids which intrude gneisses, schists and metabasites occur in the northeastern part of half – degree sheet 209. The study aims at elevating the knowledge of economic potentials of Ta – Nb mineralization in the area and enhancing the recovery and extraction percentage of the Ta – Nb concentrates in the weathered (eluvial) and whole rock occurrences. Ten samples of both the alluvial and whole rock pegmatoids were studied. 10kg of the weathered eluvial samples were prepared and subjected to gravity concentration by panning, wilfy laboratory shaking table and a Mozley laboratory separator before being analysed. Result show that the recovery of Ta and Nb in the – 2.0mm fractions for eluvial samples was 33. 4% and 28.3% at the combined concentrate grade of 12.2% Ta205 and 5.89% of Nb205. A further 13.2% of Nb205 and 11.3% of Ta205 reported to + 2.0mm panned concentrate grade of 2,400 pmm Nb and 5000 ppmm Ta. Back calculated grades of Nb205 and Ta205 were 77pmm and 190ppm respectively. The whole rock gave combined concentrate at 23.5% Nb205 and 31.5% Ta205 with recoveries, at 70.6% and 70.5% respectively. The back calculated head grade subjected to gravity processing was 128 ppm Nb205 and 172ppm Ta205. This test work results show that the two types of ores can be processed to produce Ta –Nb concentrates at economic grade. Key words: Pegmatoids, concentrates, elluvial, whole rock, recovery. [Global Jnl Geol. Sci. Vol.1(1) 2003: 95-103] AJOL Home Page How to order photocopies Order Form INASP Home Pag