To comprehensively utilize molybdenum tailings, experimental researches were systematically carried out for the molybdenum tailings from a concentrator of Jinduicheng Molybdenum Mine. Based on process mineralogy study, valuable components in the tailings were determined to be stepped recovered by flotation. Firstly, by adopting kerosene combined with No.2 oil, a flotation process consisting of one roughing and two scavenging resulted in 21.23% Mo recovery to the concentrate grading 0.47% Mo, and tailings with Mo grade of just 0.008 7%. Secondly, a process of pre-desliming followed by flotation with TB-3 collector was applied to remove mica, resulting in the flotation tailings with significantly reduced mica content, which laid a foundation for subsequent separation. Finally, such flotation tailings were processed by adopting fluorine-free alkaline flotation for separating feldspar and quartz therein without regrinding. As a result, feldspar products with a yield of 29.23% and K₂O and Na₂O contents of 7.34% and 1.01%, respectively, and quartz products with a yield of 27.87% and SiO₂ grade of 83.14% were successfully produced. It is shown that such molybdenum tailings exhibit great potential for comprehensive recovery. It is concluded that the proposed combined process flow consisting of re-flotation of molybdenum, mica removal, and separation of feldspar and quartz by fluorine-free alkaline flotation is technically feasible for simultaneous recovery of metallic and non-metallic resources.

molybdenum tailings  /  comprehensive recovery  /  flotation  /  molybdenum  /  mica  /  feldspar  /  quartz  /  molybdenum concentrate