Beneficiation of Fine-Grained Bayan Obo Niobium Ore Using a Slime Vibrating Table

In order to enhance the separation efficiency of fine-grained Bayan Obo Niobium Ore, a novel gravity separation equipment named Slime Vibrating Table (SVT) was developed. The SVT employs an electromagnetic drive to generate a reciprocating motion for the table, with a lower stroke and higher frequency than a conventional Slime Shaking Table (SST). Key parameters of SVT, including table slope, wash-water flow rate, vibration voltage, and vibration frequency, were tested for a niobium ore assaying 0.19% Nb2O5 with a particle size below 74 um by 68.78%. Under the optimized condition, SVT was able to obtain a primary concentrate assaying 1.31% Nb2O5 with a recovery of 52.64%, which was 0.22% and 26.59% higher than that of SST, respectively. Size-by-size analysis indicated that the enhanced separation performance of SVT was mainly attributed to its superior recovery of Nb2O5 in the −38 μm fraction. The SVT introduced in this study shows great potential for efficient recovery of fine-grained strategic metals, including rare earths, tantalum, tungsten, tin, and antimony, etc.