PROCESSING OF MERYKHAT SAUDI TALC FOR DIFFERENT INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

Talc, as an industrial mineral, has numerous applications. The run-of-mine talc ores usually have gangue minerals. The type, nature, and quantity of these minerals beside other variables as particle size, shape, hardness, specific gravity, morphology and brightness represent key parameters for its possible industrial applications. This paper aims at Characterization, liberation and processing of Saudi talc ore from Merykhat valley for different industrial applications. Characterization was carried out by size analyses, chemical analyses, petrographic studies and XRD. Liberation studies were implemented by using Bromoform and by using Frantez Isodynamic Magnetic Tester. Results showed that the Saudi Talc ore is of low grade. It has carbonates, magnesite, and dolomite as main gangue minerals. Liberation studies of the talc ore using Bromform is efficient in size fractions coarser than 0.09 mm while Frantez Isodynamic Tester is efficient for the whole range of tested size fractions. The lowest iron recovery possible to attain in the nonmagnetic fraction (using Frantez Isodynamic Tester) is approximately 5.5% when the degree of fineness of the ore is below 0.063 mm