According to statistics, the global fluorite mining market reached USD 2.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 3.4 billion by 2033. As mining activities intensify, the volume of fluorite tailings continues to rise. If not properly managed, this fluorite mining waste can cause significant environmental damage and pose serious risks to the safety of mining areas.
Ensuring environmentally friendly and efficient tailings treatment has become a critical challenge for mining companies. In this article, we provide an in-depth analysis of the common components found in fluorite processing tailings and introduce proven sustainable treatment solutions.Read on to discover practical insights that can support effective fluorite tailings management and contribute to the development of greener mining practices.
The composition of fluorite beneficiation tailings is largely determined by the type of raw ore and the fluorite beneficiation process used. Typically, fluorite tailings contain the following four main categories of components:
Gangue mineral residues: Primarily composed of quartz, calcite, and dolomite, with possible traces of barite, clay, and other non-metallic minerals. These originate from the non-fluorite portion of the raw ore.
Fluorite residues: A portion of calcium fluoride (CaF2) remains unrecovered in the tailings, usually ranging from 1% to 5%. This is mainly due to limited flotation efficiency or overly fine mineral particle size.
Chemical reagent residues: Residual froth flotation reagents—including collectors (such as sodium oleate and hydroxamic acids), inhibitors (like water glass and alum), and regulators (e.g., lime and sodium carbonate)—remain in the tailing water. These chemicals can potentially cause water pollution if not properly treated.
Trace heavy metals and suspended solids: Some fluorite tailings contain trace amounts of metals such as iron, aluminum, lead, and zinc. These may come from associated minerals or mineral processing equipment wear and tear during processing. Without appropriate treatment, these substances can contaminate surrounding soil and groundwater.
1. Tailings Dewatering and Dry Stacking
For fluorspar tailings with ultra-fine particle sizes, low output, and no economic recovery value, dewatering and dry stacking offer a practical solution.
By utilizing a high-efficiency fluorite tailings efficient thickener in combination with a belt filter press or chamber filter press system, the tailings slurry can be concentrated to over 65% solids.It is then mechanically dewatered into a filter cake suitable for dry discharge.
This system can be integrated with automated dosing units and intelligent control modules to ensure stable, continuous operation while minimizing the footprint and leakage risks of traditional tailings storage facilities.
2. Green Treatment of Common Residual Components in Fluorite Tailings
(1) Gangue Mineral Residues
Residual gangue minerals such as quartz, calcite, and dolomite typically vary in particle size. After classification using a hydrocyclone and vibrating screen:
Coarse particles (>0.2 mm):Can be repurposed as aggregates for construction materials, road bases, or concrete additives.
Fine and intermediate particle: Can be further processed via dry ball milling, air classification, and magnetic or optical sorting to enhance impurity separation and promote resource reuse.
(2) Fluorite Residue
To recover remaining CaF2 tailings, high-efficiency flotation columns or electrostatic separation systems can be used to improve recovery rates and reduce tailings grade. X-ray mineral recognition systems may also be integrated to achieve precise sorting and selection.
(3) Chemical Reagent Residues
A modular tailings water treatment station can be employed, using a staged treatment process;
Stage 1: pH adjustment + lime milk dosing→Precipitation of CaF2 to remove the majority of fluoride ions;
Stage 2: PAM and PAC coagulation-flocculation→Removes suspended solids and residual flotation reagents;
Stage 3: Adsorption filtration using activated alumina or modified zeolite→Further reduces fluoride concentration to meet industrial reuse standards.
*A real-time monitoring system for fluorine concentration, pH, and turbidity is essential to ensure consistent, compliant effluent quality.
(4) Treatment of Trace Heavy Metals and Suspended Solids
To address trace heavy metals and suspended particles in fluorite tailings, a two-stage sedimentation system can be implemented.
This system should include the addition of heavy metal chelating agents or precipitants (such as TMT-15 or sodium sulfide, Na2S), combined with a biological immobilization bed. The latter may incorporate microbial gel beads or plant root-based filtration materials, enabling effective heavy metal stabilization and environmentally friendly purification of tailings water.
(5) Resource-Based Utilization of Dry-Stacked Tailings
Dry-stacked tailings can be reclassified and repurposed based on their mineralogical composition, supporting circular economy goals and reducing fluorite tailings' environmental impact:
Quartz and calcite tailings→Used in the production of manufactured sand, cement raw materials, unfired bricks, and wall-filling materials.
Barite and dolomite tailings→Utilized as fillers in rubber, paint, ceramics, and other industrial applications.
Calcium-rich tailings→Applied as soil conditioners in agricultural and land reclamation projects.
Tailings treatment is a vital component of the fluorite beneficiation process. Implementing scientific and environmentally responsible technologies is essential to ensure ecological safety and promote efficient resource utilization within mining operations.
It is recommended that mining enterprises collaborate with EPCM+O service providers who possess integrated expertise in both beneficiation and tailings resource recovery. Customized, end-to-end solutions can greatly enhance project outcomes.
For example, Xinhai Mining provided full-process EPCM+O services for a 400 t/d fluorite processing project in Mongolia. As a result, the CaF2 grade of the fluorite concentrate was increased to 98%-99%, with a recovery rate nearing 90%. This not only ensured high product quality but also significantly improved resource efficiency, earning high praise from the client.
If you are facing the problem of tailings treatment or beneficiation system upgrading, you might as well learn more about Xinhai's system experience and successful cases in the green mining industry, which will bring practical inspiration and assistance to your project!
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