Assessment of enrichability of chromium-bearing product from Akkarga deposit

The work presents the results of studies on the enrichment of the chromium-containing product of the Akkarginsky deposit of crushed (–20+0 mm) with Cr2O3 content of 5.48 wt.%. The physical and mechanical properties of the product, shredding, gravity-magnetic fractionation were determined; the chemical and mineralogical composition was studied. Technological shredding modes have been established. A comprehensive study of composition of chromium-bearing product allows to make a predictive assessment of its enrichability. Gravitational enrichment was carried out on a screw gateway and concentration surfaces, magnetic enrichment on magnetic separators and classification on a vibrating screen. Two enrichment schemes are offered. Recovery of Cr2O3 in the first scheme was 66.29%, in the second scheme – 72.80%, with a similar quality of the resulting concentrate (47.8 and 46.5%, respectively). The enrichment process increased chromium oxide content by 8.5–8.7 times. The total tailings are composed mainly of serpentine group minerals with a mass fraction of Cr2O3 according to the schemes of 2.0% and 1.63% respectively. According to the content of Al2O3, CaO and FeO+Fe2O3 impurities, tailings can have a wide application. The achieved technological indexes via process of large-scale tests confirm the efficiency of the developed enrichment technology in relation to the chromium-containing product of (–20+0 mm) grade from Akkarginskoye deposit. Performance metrics also allow us to evaluate the prospects of the gravitational and magnetic methods for separating chromium-bearing minerals from the host rock.

Buzunova T. A., Volchek Yu. V., Melchakov S. Yu., Nekrasova A. A. Assessment of enrichability of chromium-bearing product from Akkarga deposit. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(9-1):7-18. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_91_0_7.

T.A. Buzunova¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: buzunova_ta@ umbr.ru,
Yu.V. Volchek, General Director, Akkarginskie Chromites LLC, 462740, Orenburg region, Svetly, e-mail: volchekuv@chromite.ru,
S.Yu. Melchakov¹, Cand. Sci. (Chem.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: Melchakov_SY@ umbr.ru,
A.A. Nekrasova¹, Researcher, e-mail: Imager@umbr.ru,
¹ Uralmekhanobr JSC, 620144, Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Yu.V. Volchek, e-mail: volchekuv@chromite.ru.

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