Farag, M., Abdel-Khalek, N., Hassan, M., El Areef, M., El Manawi, A. (2011). CHARACTERIZATION AND GRAVITY SEPARATION OF NONSULFIDE ZINC DEPOSITS FROM UM GHEIG MINE, RED SEA COAST, EGYPT. JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 39(No 1), 219-231. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2011.119720
M.Z. Farag; N.A. Abdel-Khalek; M.S. Hassan; M.M. El Areef; A.W. El Manawi. "CHARACTERIZATION AND GRAVITY SEPARATION OF NONSULFIDE ZINC DEPOSITS FROM UM GHEIG MINE, RED SEA COAST, EGYPT". JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 39, No 1, 2011, 219-231. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2011.119720
Farag, M., Abdel-Khalek, N., Hassan, M., El Areef, M., El Manawi, A. (2011). 'CHARACTERIZATION AND GRAVITY SEPARATION OF NONSULFIDE ZINC DEPOSITS FROM UM GHEIG MINE, RED SEA COAST, EGYPT', JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 39(No 1), pp. 219-231. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2011.119720
Farag, M., Abdel-Khalek, N., Hassan, M., El Areef, M., El Manawi, A. CHARACTERIZATION AND GRAVITY SEPARATION OF NONSULFIDE ZINC DEPOSITS FROM UM GHEIG MINE, RED SEA COAST, EGYPT. JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 2011; 39(No 1): 219-231. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2011.119720
CHARACTERIZATION AND GRAVITY SEPARATION OF NONSULFIDE ZINC DEPOSITS FROM UM GHEIG MINE, RED SEA COAST, EGYPT
This paper aims to beneficiation of Um Gheig nonsulfide Zinc ore from its associated gangues using the gravity separation “shaking table” technique. The different operating parameters affecting of the efficiency of the separation process is evaluated. The zinc locality of Um Gheig represents one of the important nonsulfide zinc deposits along the coastal plain of the Red Sea Coast, Egypt. These zinc ores are called “calamines” and consist mainly of a mixture of zinc carbonates (smithsonite, hydrozincite) and zinc silicates (hemimorphite), with a variable content of calcite, goethite and Pb bearing minerals. Extensive mineralogical (using XRD, XRF) and petrographic studies have been carried out on the selected samples from Um Gheig Mine. Theses investigations show that, the nonsulfides mineral association in the deposit consists mainly of smithsonite (50.74%), hydrozincite (18.78%) and hemimorphite (14.78%) replacing both primary ore minerals and carbonate host rocks. Smithsonite occurs in two generations, cryptocrystalline mixed with goethite and rhombohedral crystals, precipitate in vugs and open space of the high grade ore. The main gangue minerals are calcite and goethite. XRF analysis indicates that the sample contains 47.50% ZnO, 1.55% PbO and about 29.28% L.O.I. Liberation and mineralogical investigation showed that higher degree of liberation (over 90%) between the valuable zinc bearing minerals and their gangues can be achieved below the size 0.106 mm. The results of gravity separation showed that the best operating parameters to obtain a concentrate with high assay and recovery are at inclination angle (4 degree), stroke length (2.5 cm), feed rate (150 gm / min), and water flow rate (25 l / min). At these optimum conditions a concentrate assaying 60.85 % ZnO was obtained with a recovery of ~90 %.