Enhancing mineral liberation of rare earth minerals by using high voltage electrical pulses and improved classification - Ashram Deposit

Ashram存款是世界上最大的稀土元素（REE）和氟石之一。存款位于魁北克省Nunavik地区的Eldor地产，由Commerce Resources Corp.开发。由于其在永磁体（风能）和可充电电池等各种先进技术中的重要作用，稀土的全球需求不断增加。 稀土元素并不像它们的名字所暗示的那样稀有。然而，它们在矿石中的浓度非常低，使得它们难以提取，开采起来也不经济。为了经济，稀土加工包括精炼步骤，以生产高品位精矿，通常高达40%的REO（稀土氧化物）。稀土矿物在粉碎过程中的解离程度决定了稀土矿物的粉碎效率。Ashram存款材料的特征在于非常精细的释放尺寸，通常为15-20 µm，因此需要精细研磨以增强释放。然而，细磨导致高能耗和操作成本。此外，细磨产生超细颗粒，这降低了后续步骤（通常是浮选过程）的效率。因此，本项目的主要目标是评估高压电脉冲（HVEP）技术的矿物解离效率以及湿法筛分对防止超细粉的影响，以便能够从Ashram存款材料中生产高品位稀土精矿。

The Ashram Deposit is one of the largest rare earth elements (REEs) and fluorspar in the world. The deposit located at the Eldor property in the Nunavik Region of the province of Québec, is developed by Commerce Resources Corp. Because of their major role in various advanced technologies like permanent magnets (wind energy) and rechargeable batteries, REEs global demand is constantly increasing. REEs are not as rare as their name implies. However, their very low concentration in the ore makes them difficult to extract and not economical to mine. To be economic, rare earth processing involves beneficiation step to produce high-grade concentrate, typically up to 40 percent of REO (Rare Earth Oxide). The efficiency of beneficiation depends on the degree of liberation of RE minerals during the comminution process. The Ashram Deposit material is characterized by a very fine liberation size, typically 15-20 µm, thus requiring fine grinding to enhance liberation. However, fine grinding results on high energy consumption and operating cost. In addition, fine grinding generates ultra-fine particles which reduce the efficiency of the subsequent step, typically a flotation process. Therefore, the main objective of the present project is to evaluate the mineral liberation efficiency of the high voltage electrical pulse (HVEP) technology and the impact of wet screening on preventing ultra-fines, in order to enable the production of high grade REEs concentrate from Ashram Deposit material.