Enhanced Recovery of Tantalum and Niobium from Fine-Grained Low-Grade Abu Dabbab Tantalite Ore via Falcon Concentration and Magnetic Separation

Tantalum and niobium possess unique properties that make them invaluable across various industries. However, their similar chemical characteristics and natural co-occurrence challenge their separation. This study investigates the recovery of tantalum and niobium from low-grade Abu Dabbab tantalite ore using gravity and magnetic separation techniques. Tantalite ore consists mainly of silicate minerals, with traces of tantalumand niobium oxides. The beneficiation process,of the size fraction − 75 micron,began with gravity separation using Falcon concentrator, which achieved an optimal tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅) grade of 2.0% and recovery of 85.70%. Optimization of process parameters was carried out using the Box-Behnken design. Magnetic separation with a Box-Mag Rapid LHW magnetic separator was applied to further enrich the tantalum concentrate, achieving a Ta₂O₅ grade of 6.22% and a recovery rate of 94.73%. This process also yielded significant enrichment of niobium oxide (Nb₂O₅) and cassiterite (SnO₂), with enrichment ratios of 250-fold for both Ta₂O₅ and Nb₂O₅and 195-fold for SnO₂. Additionally, the beneficiation process recovered valuable albite and mica fractions. The characterization of the final tantalum concentrate revealed high Ta₂O₅, Nb₂O₅, and SnO₂ content, confirming that combined Falcon and magnetic separation effectively enhances recovery and enrichment of tantalum and niobium from complex ores.