Technological developments in processing Australian mineral sand deposits

Almost all Australian mineral sand deposits are placer deposits, with the major commercial deposits located in four provinces along the east, west, and south coasts and in ancient basins in the southeast of the country. The development of new technology for mineral separation and its adaption to changes in the mineralogy of the deposits are discussed. Also, a summary is given of novel processing conditions developed to lower the levels of impurity elements (in particular manganese and radionuclides) in the heavy minerals, and to remove gangue minerals to obtain the maximum value from the deposits. The extensive, but still undeveloped, fine-grained Murray Basin deposits will require unique flotation conditions and roasting processes to produce marketable heavy mineral concentrates. The numerous potential novel processes that have been proposed for these deposits are discussed.