| Abstract Scope |
A columbite ore of pegmatite origin was characterized by subjecting it to energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and diffraction (XRD) analyses as well as scanning electron microscope-Energy Dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS) and Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) analysis. The sample was pre-concentrated with shaking table to upgrade its niobium content. The XRF analysis shows that the ore contains niobium and zirconium at 2.29 and 2.52%, concentrations, respectively. XRD chart gave prominent peaks at 2Ɵ angles 27.307, 30.38, 35.79, 38.07, 53.60, 55.92 and 63.70α which indicate orthorhombic crystal structure of the columbite-iron (FeNbO_4) mineral phase. The SEM images show individual mineral grains and intergranular boundaries. SEM-EDS shows points with Nb, Pt, Si and Ta at 59.55, 34.03, 33.83 and 16.37%, respectively. FTIR analysis reveals strong absorption band for Ta and Nb oxides in the regions 1100-1000 〖cm〗^(-1) and 900-800 〖cm〗^(-1) respectively. Shaking tabling increase the assay from 2.29 to 2.65% in concentrate. |