Study of ore sulfatizaion process of the Tomtor mining deposit

Experimental studies of the high-temperature decomposition of ore from the Tomtor mining deposit with concentrated sulfuric acid have been carried out. It was experimentally established that as a result of ore processing with sulfuric acid solutions, two main commodity products are formed: leaching cake (or rough niobium concentrate) and sulfate solution, containing REE (rare earth elements), thorium and phosphorus. The output of sulfate cake reaches 65% by weight of the original ore. It was experimentally established that the degree of extraction of niobium in the concentrate is 95% and the extraction into the solution of rare earth metal oxides (REO), thorium, scandium and phosphorus oxides are 88-96%. Regression models dependences of the autopsy of REO and thorium on the conditions of ore sulfatization obtained mathematical processing of experimental data. The specific radioactivity of sulfate cake and commodity sulfate solution was determined, which ensure safe work with the material. Based on the conducted experiments, a technological scheme of high-temperature decomposition of ore from the Tomtor mining deposit with concentrated sulfuric acid was developed.