article · International Journal of Mining Science and Technology
Analysis of natural graphite ore from Saba Boru in Ethiopia reveals fine-sized flake graphite with a slightly oval structure. Laboratory assessments using standard characterisation techniques established that the raw ore contains between 4.11% and 33.14% total carbon, with silica and alumina forming the primary chemical constituents. Processing the ore through flotation concentrates the material to an average purity of 92.97% with a 90.82% recovery rate, significantly reducing the ash content from 81.93% to 3.1%. Subsequent treatment using hydrofluoric acid further upgrades the graphite concentrate to a grade of 96.48% carbon. Beneficiation also leaves behind silica as the dominant gangue mineral at 85.88%, which presents an opportunity for reuse as an industrial raw material in applications such as cement manufacturing.
Flake graphite is an essential industrial mineral, and identifying viable natural reserves is critical for material supply chains. Demonstrating that deposits can be effectively concentrated using standard flotation and chemical purification shows whether an ore body has practical utility. In addition, identifying useful by-products such as silica helps reduce waste in mineral processing operations.
The research demonstrates early-stage, bench-scale feasibility for upgrading Saba Boru graphite ore into high-grade carbon concentrates exceeding 96% purity. Mining operators and mineral processing firms are the primary prospective users. While high recovery and purity figures indicate commercial promise, the process remains tested only at laboratory scale, and further work would be needed to assess industrial viability and the commercial valorisation of the residual silica by-product in cement.
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The mineralogy and petrography of natural graphite in Saba Boru of Ethiopia indicate that there exists flake graphite with a slightly oval structured fine size according to our study on thin and polished sections. Herein, for estimating the carbon content in graphite, the ASTM-C561, the test method for ash in a graphite sample, was used. For characterizing graphite, x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence, inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were also used. Chemical analysis of ore samples determined that the average compositions are 63.35% SiO2, 15.45% Al2O3, 2.36% Fe2O3, 2.07% K2O, less than1% others, and loss-on-ignition (LOI) in the range of ~4.74%–37.42%. The total carbon content of graphitic ore ranged from 4.11% to 33.14%. Importantly, when graphite is concentrated through floatation, its average purity and recovery are 92.97% and 90.82%, respectively. Furthermore, once the graphite concentrates are treated with hydrofluoric acid, the average value attains a high grade of 96.48% C. Moreover, the average ash content is 81.93% (pre-flotation) and 3.1% (post-flotation), respectively. Finally, after beneficiation, a silica is identified as a major gangue (85.88%), usable as a raw material for other purposes such as cement. Hence, these graphite-bearing rocks seem to be worth exploring for commercialization opportunities.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2020.05.025
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