A treatise on occurrence, beneficiation and plant practices of tungsten-bearing ores

Abstract

Tungsten is considered one of the important strategic metals due to its specific use in defense applications and high supply risk associated with it. Scheelite (CaWO4) and wolframite ((Fe, Mn)WO4) are the primary minerals mined for the commercial exploration of tungsten. The present review article summarizes the research in-vestigations on geological occurrences connecting to different beneficiation techniques such as gravity, magnetic, and flotation techniques and subsequent plant practices across the globe. Scheelite is primarily associated with skarns and stratabound deposits, whereas wolframite is found in veins, porphyry, and disseminated deposits. The gravity concentration and magnetic separation techniques are predominantly practiced in wolframite benefici-ation, while gravity concentration followed by froth flotation is the key route in the scheelite beneficiation. Several research articles have been published in the recent past on the flotation separation of scheelite from calcite, fluorite, and other calcium-bearing minerals. The separation of these mineral systems is challenging as they exhibit similar surface properties. Thus, the present review article also collates the surface properties and various reagent systems developed towards enhancing the flotation selectivity of scheelite particles. Further, the present communication critically reviews the flotation separation of the wolframite mineral system for the first time.