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<p>The present study characterized and beneficiated Toro zircon sand (Bauchi State) Nigeria, focusing on maximizing zirconia recovery. The zircon sand is a low-grade resource containing 3.20% zirconia with major impurities of SiO<sub>2</sub> (76.09%), Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (7.62%), Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (3.60%), K<sub>2</sub>O (3.22%), TiO<sub>2</sub> (2.27%), and CaO (1.13%). Both magnetic and gravity separation techniques were employed to upgrade the sand, with dry-high intensity magnetic separation yielding a ZrO<sub>2</sub> amount of 1.30% and a high silica content of 84.98%. In contrast, air floating separation significantly enhanced the ZrO<sub>2</sub> content to 38.37%. Further fractional sieve analysis conducted on the gravity concentrate revealed the liberation size at -90 + 63&#xa0;μm, achieving a ZrO<sub>2</sub> grade of 49.15%. The crude zircon sand was characterized using SEM/EDS confirming typical rounded-to-pyramidal zircon morphology, while XRD revealed predominant phases of zircon, quartz, ilmenite, and rutile, alongside minor actinolite, xenotime, topaz, anatase, dolomite, muscovite, and almandine phases. The study demonstrates that simple, low-cost physical separation techniques followed by size classification can effectively upgrade Toro zircon sand, providing an efficient pathway for further beneficiation to industrial-grade zirconia.</p>

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Characterization, Liberation Size Determination and Processing of Toro (Bauchi State, Nigeria) Zircon Sand for Zirconia Production

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月6日

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  • Benard Ochieng Owino,
  • Oladunni Oyelola Alabi,
  • Fatai Olufemi Aramide,
  • Davies Oladayo Folorunso

摘要

The present study characterized and beneficiated Toro zircon sand (Bauchi State) Nigeria, focusing on maximizing zirconia recovery. The zircon sand is a low-grade resource containing 3.20% zirconia with major impurities of SiO2 (76.09%), Al2O3 (7.62%), Fe2O3 (3.60%), K2O (3.22%), TiO2 (2.27%), and CaO (1.13%). Both magnetic and gravity separation techniques were employed to upgrade the sand, with dry-high intensity magnetic separation yielding a ZrO2 amount of 1.30% and a high silica content of 84.98%. In contrast, air floating separation significantly enhanced the ZrO2 content to 38.37%. Further fractional sieve analysis conducted on the gravity concentrate revealed the liberation size at -90 + 63 μm, achieving a ZrO2 grade of 49.15%. The crude zircon sand was characterized using SEM/EDS confirming typical rounded-to-pyramidal zircon morphology, while XRD revealed predominant phases of zircon, quartz, ilmenite, and rutile, alongside minor actinolite, xenotime, topaz, anatase, dolomite, muscovite, and almandine phases. The study demonstrates that simple, low-cost physical separation techniques followed by size classification can effectively upgrade Toro zircon sand, providing an efficient pathway for further beneficiation to industrial-grade zirconia.