Experimental Research on the Appropriate Grinding Fineness for the Magnetic Separation of Indonesian Ilmenite Sands

In order to exploit Indonesian ilmenite sands more effectively,the properties of the ore and the process of grinding and magnetic separation test were studied by using X ray diffraction （XRD）,laser particle size analysis,scanning electron microscope energy spectrum （SEM- EDS） and other methods. The results show that both iron and titanium mainly exist in the form of titanomagnetite,ilmenite and titanohematite in the ilmenite sands. Grinding and magnetic separation methods are used for mineral processing.When the grinding fineness of- 0.074 mm accounts for 87.98 percent,the grinding efficiency expressed by growth of- 0.074 mm per minute is only 0.913 percent. Considering the cost of grinding and the index of magnetic separation,the appropriate grinding fineness of- 0.074 mm accounts for 72.76 percent where the concentrate with TFe grade of 59.5 percent,the TFe recovery of 95.70 percent,TiO₂ grade of 11.7percent,the TiO₂ recovery of 92.21 percent has been obtained when the used strength of the magnetic field is 160 m T.