Quartz Sand Beneficiation Methods & Process - JXSC Mineral

Trash minerals found in quartz sand can vary based on geographic location and deposit characteristics. However, there are several common contaminants that could be present:

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Feldspar: This is an aluminum-rich mineral, commonly represented by albite and potassium feldspar, which typically appears in white, pink, or gray hues. Feldspar is a prevalent impurity in quartz sand, adversely affecting its purity and transparency.

Mica: This flaky mineral, including varieties such as muscovite and biotite, may exist in quartz sand as fine flakes, which can alter the texture and transparency of the sand.

Iron Oxide Minerals: Minerals like hematite and magnetite can impart different colors to quartz sand, potentially influencing its use in industries such as glass production.

Clay Minerals: Clay particles in quartz sand can impact the fluidity and processing characteristics of the material.

Carbonate Minerals: Typically found in fine particles, minerals such as calcite or dolomite may compromise the chemical stability of quartz sand.

Other Metal Oxides: Elements like zircon can modify the chemical composition of quartz sand.

Organic Matter: Residual organic materials may also be present in quartz sand, especially if formed in a natural setting.

Zero Electric Point of Impurity Minerals in Quartz Sand

The zero electric point of impurities in quartz sand denotes the pH at which the mineral surface achieves a specific charge, defining the point where the surface charge becomes neutral. At this value, the mineral's surface charge is neutralized, affecting interactions such as adsorption and precipitation.

Here is a list of zero-electric point ranges for certain impurities found in typical quartz sands, though note that these values may fluctuate based on mineral sources and experimental setups:

• Feldspar: Generally has a zero charge point between pH 2-3.
• Mica:

  The zero charge point of mica falls in the pH 2-4 range.

• Iron Oxide Minerals:

  Hematite possesses a zero charge point around pH 9, while magnetite ranges from pH 6-7.

• Carbonate Minerals:

  Calcite's zero charge point is between pH 8-9, whereas dolomite registers between pH 9-10.

• Zircon:

  Zircon has a zero charge point close to pH 6-7.

Mineral Name

Zero Point (PZC)

Potassium feldspar K(AISi3O8)

1.4-1.7

Albite NA(AISi3O8), Anorthite Ca(AI2Si2O8)

1.9-3.6

Muscovite KAI2[Si3AIO10] (OH, F)2

1.0

Quartz SiO2

2.0

Apatite Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,CI)

4.0-7.0

Magnetite Fe3O4

6.3-6.7

Hematite  Fe2O3

5.2-8.7

Ilmenite FeTiO3

5.6

Goethite  FeOOH

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5.9-6.9

These approximate zero electric point values can be established through laboratory measurement of properties like charge. Understanding the zero charge point of impurities is critical for optimizing the beneficiation and processing of quartz sand to ensure efficient separation and purification. In various industrial contexts, this knowledge aids in predicting and managing impurity behavior to achieve quartz sand products of desired quality.

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Quartz sand constitutes a vital industrial mineral material, widely utilized in glass, ceramics, refractory materials, metallurgy, and rubber applications. The quartz sand beneficiation process generally encompasses four stages: preparation, preliminary separation, separation, and deep purification.

01

Quartz Sand Preparation 

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The primary aim of pre-selection preparation is to thoroughly dissociate the quartz sand and achieve an appropriate particle size range for subsequent operations. This phase primarily involves crushing, grinding, and classification.

Crushing: Commonly used crushing machinery includes jaw crushers and impact crushers. Jaw crushers are mainly for coarse quartz crushing, whereas impact crushers serve fine crushing purposes.

Grinding: Wet rod mills are typically employed for grinding quartz sand. They offer controllable fineness and minimize the risk of over-grinding, thereby yielding better outcomes. Additionally, rod mills also assist in scrubbing and removing some impurities.

Classification: The milled products are classified, with subpar materials returned for further grinding to effectively manage particle size and create optimal conditions for separation operations.

02

Quartz Sand Preliminary Separation

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The chief objective of preliminary separation of quartz sand is to eliminate impurities such as ore slurries from the grinding process as well as oxide iron films on the quartz sand surface to enhance subsequent separation effectiveness. This phase includes washing, desliming, and scrubbing.

Washing and Desliming: Hydraulic flushing is employed to remove ore slurry and particulate clay impurities from quartz sand, leveraging equipment such as drum screens, desliming hoppers, and hydraulic cyclones.

Scrubbing: Mechanical external force and mineral friction help eliminate impurities like oxide iron films on quartz sand surfaces and disintegrate mineral clusters not fully dissociated into individual particles. Equipment commonly used includes stirring scrubbers and spiral scrubbers.

03

Quartz Sand Separation

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Common beneficiation approaches for quartz sand comprise magnetic separation and flotation methods.

Magnetic Separation: While quartz sand is non-magnetic, iron-bearing minerals such as hematite and brown iron ore are magnetic and can be separated using magnetic separators. The removal effect improves with finer quartz sand particle sizes.

Flotation: This approach is typically undertaken to eliminate non-magnetic minerals like mica and feldspar from quartz sand, often in acidic conditions, necessitating corrosion-resistant equipment.

04

Quartz Sand Deep Purification

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When traditional beneficiation techniques fall short in thoroughly removing impurities that are deeply embedded in quartz sand, leading to low purity levels, methods such as acid leaching and high-temperature roasting become viable for purification.

Acid Leaching: Quartz sand remains insoluble in acid; however, acid can dissolve other impurities that are resistant to removal by standard techniques. Note that acid leaching entails high operational requirements.

High-Temperature Roasting: This method involves roasting quartz sand at elevated temperatures while introducing chlorine gas, prompting the rupture of encapsulated impurities, exposing them for removal through other methods.

05

To Wrap Up

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The process of quartz sand beneficiation is encapsulated in these four stages. Nevertheless, in real-world mining contexts, it’s essential to select appropriate methods and machinery based on the ore properties, mineral composition, and impregnation characteristics of the quartz sand. Click to view the quartz sand processing plant equipment list.

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