Phase Equilibria of Nb2O5-CaO-MgO-SiO2 System at 1250°C, 1300°C, and 1400°C in Air
摘要
The high-temperature melting and crystallization differentiation technology is an effective method for enriching niobium resources in Bayan Obo, but the phase equilibrium relations are unclear during the melting and cooling crystallization process. In the present work, phase equilibria of the Nb2O5-CaO-MgO-SiO2 system at 1250°C, 1300°C, and 1400°C in air were studied by the equilibrium experiments. The phase equilibrium relations were identified by electron-probe x-ray microanalysis and X-ray diffraction. The results revealed seven independent tetrahedral regions at 1250°C, including CaNb2O6-MgNb2O6-MgSiO3-SiO2 region, Ca2Nb2O7-Ca2MgSi2O7-CaMgSi2O6-Mg2SiO4 region, CaNb2O6-Ca2Nb2O7-Mg4Nb2O9-Mg2SiO4 region, CaNb2O6-CaMgSi2O6-MgSiO3-SiO2 region, CaNb2O6-CaSiO3-CaMgSi2O6-SiO2 region, Ca2Nb2O7-Ca2MgSi2O7-CaMgSi2O6-CaSiO3 region, and Nb2O5-CaNb2O6-MgNb2O6-SiO2 region. At 1300°C, two four-phase regions were identified as Liquid-Ca2Nb2O7-Ca2MgSi2O7-Mg2SiO4 and Liquid-CaNb2O6-MgSiO3-SiO2. Afterward, the liquidus surface of the phase relation Liquid-SiO2 was plotted, and the Liquid-SiO2 region was confirmed at 1400°C. The determined phase equilibrium relations can provide theoretical guidance for converting multiple niobium-bearing minerals into a single niobium-bearing phase by the high-temperature melting and crystallization differentiation technology.