Gravity and Magnetic Separation of Polymetallic Pegmatite from Wadi El Sheih Granite, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

Occurrence and mineralogy of economically important rare-metal mineralization from pegmatite of Wadi El Sheih granite, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt, was previously discussed. The mineralogical investigation of the bulk composite sample collected from the studied pegmatite revealed the presence of 7.59% by mass heavy economic polymetallic minerals such as euxenite-(Y), fergusonite-(Y), allanite-(Ce), xenotime-(Y), uranothorite and zircon. This work investigated the use of high intensity magnetic separator in conjunction with gravity pre-concentration steps via shaking table concentrator to recover rare-metals and rare earth bearing mineralization of Wadi El Sheih pegmatitic granitoid sample. The results of magnetic separation are related to the magnetic susceptibility measurements of pure single crystal minerals using vibrating sample magnetometer instruments.