Investigation of the effects of microwave energy and conventional heat treatment on fine, low tenor Bigadiç colemanite and ulexite ores

Within the scope of this thesis, it is aimed to enrich the fine (-3 mm) and low-grade Colemanite and Ulexite minerals obtained from the concentrator units operating within the Eti mine works General Directorate, Bigadic boron Management Department with various heat treatment methods. Currently, the amount of the -3mm Colemanite and Ulexite ore in the open stock areas of the enterprise has increased over 1.5 million tons. Some of these ores is mixed together high-grade ores in the upper-size range in the crushing stages. However, major part has been stored as tailing. In order to make physical and chemical characterization of the material to be used within the scope of experiments, 50 kg of colemanite and ulexite ores were taken and their grades were determined by chemical analysis as 22.87% and 27.99% B2O3 respectively. The sieve analysis, mineralogical analysis and TGA analysis of the samples were performed to determine characterization of the samples. The samples were dried in the central laboratory of the enterprise and were obtained by using riffle splitter and packaged for the planned experiments. After this stage, microwave and conventional heat treatment methods have been applied on the samples in order to regain and evaluate them with high grade and recovery. For conventional heat treatment, the temperature range of 450 °C to 600 °C was used and in the microwave heat treatment tests the 600-800 watt energy range was applied.