Investigation on the benefication of low grade colemanite stocks in Emet region, emet

In this study, the benefication of low-grade colemanite stocks of more than 100,000 tons which have been waiting for longer than nearly 15 years and can not be evaluated in any way in Emet Boron Works in order to get salable product, and availability of these ore in the production of boric acid were investigated. Chemical, physical, mineralogical and thermal characterization of low-grade colemanite stocks, in the sizes of - 10 mm and -3 mm, located in Espey region and in the size range of -25 +3 mm in Hisarcık region were primarily conducted. As a result, the studies were conducted on dry enrichment methods of decrepitation, microwave and dry magnetic separation to minimize the problems of the waste and waste dam coming out by the wet methods.Grades of the samples used in this study vary as 35.64% B2O3 for -3 mm size of Espey, 28.87% B2O3 for -10 mm size of Espey and 29.57% B2O3 for -25 +3 mm size of Hisarcık. They contain arsenic and Fe2O3 in their contents that may be a problem with the sales. With the aim of covering B2O3 from this samples, experiments were conducted by using the methods of decrepitation, microwave and dry magnetic separation. In the decrepitation studies, grade of % 53,82 B2O3 was reached for -3 mm of Espey with efficiency of % 90,05, while grades of % 51,24 and % 53,03 B2O3 were reached for -10 mm of Espey and +25-3 mm of Hisarcık with efficiencies of % 83,21 and % 89,68 respectively. In the microwave experiments, a concentrate of % 52,78 B2O3 grade was obtained with the efficiency of, % 85,72 for -3 mm of Espey while the grades of % 50,12 B2O3 and % 49,98 B2O3 were obtained with the efficiencies of % 86,50 and % 86,37 for -10 mm of Espey and +25-3 mm of Hisarcık respectively. Conversely, expected results couldn?t be achieved in dry magnetic seperation experiments. Boric acid was produced by the decrepitated products obtained and proper results were achieved through the processes.Keywords : Decrepitation, Colemanite, Microwave.