The Guaju mine, Paraíba State, produces different types of zircon concentrate, as a by-product of coastal dunes treatment. The denominated Concentrate Zirconita B is one of the products. It is considered low quality, due to the occurrence of mineral inclusions in about 28% of the zircon grains. Mineralogical characterization studies in an electron microprobe were carried out. A schematic of mineral treatment was developed on bench scale, including the processes of magnetic and electrostatic separation, heating in microwave oven, grinding and sizing. The results indicate that the main minerals that take part in the inclusions are pyrrhotite, biotite, quartz, ilmenite and apatite. They also show that the treatment processes generate products and by-products that incorporate a commercial valorization of 77% in relation to the original raw material, with a 12% mass loss. The flowsheet studied indicates very good results, but there are operational and economical challenges to be considered by the company, to implant the processes in the industrial operations.
zircon; mineral technology; mineral processing
