An Overview of Process Mineralogy of Tungsten and Its Associated Elements

Abstract

China produces much tungsten metal every year. The tungsten deposits in China usually are low grade and have a complex mineralogy composition as well as many associated valuable elements. The associated elements include Sn, Mo, Bi, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sb, Be, Co, Au, Ag, Nb, Ta, Re, Sc, REE, Li, As, S, and P and the nonmetallic minerals such as quartz, fluorite, feldspar, etc. Therefore, only when the tungsten ore dressing is done in accordance with the ore properties based on a detailed and complete process mineralogy study can the valuable elements be reasonably and fully recovered and the maximization of resource utilization as well as environment-friendly technology be achieved eventually. This chapter summarizes the status quo of process mineralogy of tungsten and its associated elements in China, focusing on the process mineralogy studies on major types of tungsten ore including tungsten–molybdenum-associated ore, tungsten–tin polymetallic ore, and tungsten–copper polymetallic ore, suggesting the future process mineralogy research on tungsten and its associated elements.