LAUSR

Rapid development of high-tech industries is due to the rare and rare-earth metals used in instrumentation and radio electronics. Their materials are used primarily in the military-industrial and aerospace industries and are of strategic importance for the state. Purpose. To develop a technology of enrichment of difficult-to-enrich rare-earth ore of weathering crust on the basis of combined gravity and flotation enrichment scheme. Methodology. Studies on processing of this mineral raw material were carried out on the basis of gravity-flotation enrichment with obtaining rare-earth concentrate. The enrichment studies were carried out on a selected sample of ore from the deposit. On the basis of sieve and sedimentation analyses, the distribution of the sum of rare-earth elements (REE) in ore size classes and enrichment products was studied. Gravity enrichability of ore was determined by fractional analysis. Findings. A method of gravity enrichment using the developed gravity apparatus and flotation enrichment of sand and clay fraction of the studied ore has been developed. Gravity enrichment produced a concentrate containing 1,053.76 g/t of rare-earth elements (REE), flotation enrichment of the clay fraction of the ore produced a concentrate containing 590.0 g/t of rare-earth elements (REE). Originality. The developed ultrasonic aerohydrodeslimator was used for ore desliming. The gravitational technology for processing hard-to-enrich rare-earth ore of weathering crust with the use of vibrocentrifugal frequency apparatus, which allows intensifying the extraction of fine ore particles, is developed. Rare earth ore of size class -0.045 + 0 mm (clay fraction) and class -2.5 + 0.045 mm (sand fraction) was subjected to flotation beneficiation. Practical value. The results of the research can be used in technological processes of processing of stubborn difficult-to-enrich rare-earth and other ores of weathering crust.