भारत सरकार /Government of India

परमाणु ऊर्जा विभाग /Department of Atomic Energy

परमाणु खनिज अन्वेषण एवं अनुसंधान निदे शालय
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research

बेगमपेट/Begumpet,
है दराबाद/Hyderabad-500016
संख्या/No.AMD/RMRE/MPU/2020-21/09 दिनांक/ Date: August 05, 2021

मासिक रिपोर्ट: जुलाई, 2021

Monthly Report: July, 2021
महोदय Sir,

ु ा हुआ हूं एवं जल

खनिज प्रक्रमण इकाई में जड़ ु ाई 2021 महीने के लिए किये गये कार्य पर मासिक रिपोर्ट अवलोकनार्थ
प्रस्तत
ु है ‫׀‬
I have associated in Mineral Processing Unit and the ‘Monthly Report of work carried out during the
month of July, 2021 is enclosed herewith for kind perusal.

Yours faithfully,

(जी.वी.एस.उमामहे श्वर राव/G.V.S.Umamaheswara Rao)

वैज्ञानिक अधिकारी इ /Scientific Officer E

सेवा में /To

निदे शक, प.ख.नि/प.ऊ.वि., है दराबाद/ Director, AMD/DAE, Hyderabad-500016

प्रतिलिपि/Copy to:
1.अपर निदे शक (अ एवं वि), प.ख.नि/प.ऊ.वि., है दराबाद-500016/ Additional Director (R & D), AMD/DAE,
Hyderabad.
2) प्रधान, विरल धातु एवं विरल मद
ृ ा वर्ग, प.ख.नि/प.ऊ.वि., है दराबाद-500016 /Head, Rare Metal and Rare Earth
Group, AMD/DAE, Hyderabad
3) प्रभारी, खनिज प्रक्रमण इकाई, प.ख.नि/प.ऊ.वि., है दराबाद/ Incharge, Mineral Processing Unit, AMD/DAE,
Hyderabad-500016.

(जी.वी.एस.उमामहे श्वर राव/G.V.S.Umamaheswara Rao)

वैज्ञानिक अधिकारी इ /Scientific Officer E

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असैन्में टसं./ Assignment No. 4.1 पखनि क्षेत्रों से प्राप्त नमन
ू ों पर भौतिक सज्जीकरण /जलधातक
ु ार्य अभिलक्षण
अध्ययन/ /Physical beneficiation and hydrometallurgical investigations of samples received from Regions.

1. Bulk samples of sandstone, Rajpura area, Una district & Loharkar area, Hamirpur district,
Himachal Pradesh
Two bulk sandstone samples weighing about 50 kg each from Rajpura area, Una district and
Loharkar area, Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh were taken up for physical beneficiation and
hydrometallurgical studies for extraction of uranium. (Sample received on 06/07/2021 from S/Shri
Dibakar Ghosh, SO/E & Vijay Yadav , SO/C (Rajpura area) and C.P. Panigrahi, SO.F (Loharkar area),
Siwalik Invs., NR, New Delhi vide sample slip ID 102020108-R, dated 29/06/2021 & 102020404, dated
28-06-2021, these are revised samples of earlier sample slip dated 10/04/2021, which were discarded
due to sampling error and fresh samples were requested).
The samples were received to carryout uranium leachability studies to establish the in-house pilot
plant for In-situ leaching (ISL) mining in Himachal Pradesh. Initially, bench scale leaching experiments
on above samples have been planned to establish uranium feasibility and flow-sheet development
studies.
Sample preparation for feed analysis: The samples were crushed to –6# in Jaw crusher and
representative samples were drawn and sent for radiometric and chemical analysis. The radiometric
assay results were received and the details are given below.

i) Rajpura area, Una district H.P.

Table 1 Radiometric analysis of -6# feed

S.No Sample No. Locality % eU3O8 % U3O8 %ThO2 %Ra (eU3O8)

1 RJP/TMP/01 Rajpura, Una district 0.016 0.022 <0.005 0.015

ii) Loharkar area, Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh.

Table 2 Radiometric analysis of -6# feed

S.No Sample No. Locality % % U3O8 %ThO2 %Ra (eU3O8)

eU3O8
1 LHR/Bulk/MPU/1 (R) Loharkar, 0.025 0.011 <0.005 0.024
Hamirpur district,

Hydrometallurgical studies for extraction of uranium by alkali carbonate leaching

Percolation leaching:
Percolation leaching is a type of static bed leaching system in which the leaching solutions are passed
through a stationary bed of ore. In percolation leaching the mined ore is finely crushed (normally to
about -1 in (—25.4 mm) or less) and then bedded into tanks or vats. The leaching solutions are passed
through the static ore in either an upward or a downward direction.
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As a laboratory scale study, alkaline percolation leaching was carried out on the feed samples ground
to -6# size at 50% solids pulp density, ambient temperature (26-270C) using 25 kg Na2CO3/t and 10 kg
NaHCO3/t as reagents maintaining the pH at 10 – 11 for 9 days, with two percolations and one draining
step each day. No oxidant is used in the test. Representative leach liquor samples were drawn each
day for U3O8 analysis. The experiment set up is shown in Fig. 1 Further work is in progress.

Percolation leaching

2. Tin slag sample, M/s Precious Minerals & Smelting Ltd., Jagadalpur, Chhattisgarh
A tin slag sample weighing about 5 kg from M/s Precious Minerals & Smelting Ltd., Jagadalpur,
Chhattisgarh was received from RD/CR on 23/03/2021 vide sample slip ID dated 22/03/2021 for
extraction of U, REE, Nb & Ta.
1) Physical Beneficiation studies
a) Size analysis study
The size analysis study on the representative feed sample crushed to -40# was carried out to know the
preferential concentration/enrichment of uranium, rare earths, Nb, Ta values in any particular size. The
details are given in table 3. The size analysis products have been sent for chemical analysis. Results
are awaited.

Table 3 Size analysis of -40# feed

S.No. Mesh No. % wt. % Cum. weight % Cum. weight
retained passed
1 -40+60# 25.00 25.00 75.00
2 -60+80# 13.48 38.48 61.52
3 -80+100# 6.62 45.10 54.90
4 -100+150# 12.75 57.85 42.15
5 -150+200# 16.67 74.52 25.48
6 -200 25.48 100.00 -
Total 100.00
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b) High tension separation (HTS) to recover conducting & Non-conducting minerals:

The -40# feed sample was subjected to High Tension Separation (HTS) to recover conducting (Nb-Ta
bearing fraction) and non-conducting (Rare earth mineral bearing fraction) separately. The details are
given in Table 4. The products have been sent for chemical analysis. Results are awaited.

Table 4 High Tension separation of -40# feed

S.No. Product % wt.
1 Conducting 12.85
2 Non-conducting 87.15
Total 100.00
2) Leachability studies
Cold pugging and Static bed leaching
Pug curing and static bed leaching on (-)40# feed sample was carried out using 250kg H2SO4/t and 10
kg MnO2/t at ambient temperature (25-270C) keeping the slurry for 9 days. The leach liquour and
residue products were collected and sent for Chemical analysis. Results are awaited.

असैन्में टसं./AssignmentNo.4.2 आरएमआरई तथा बीएसओआई समूह से प्राप्त नमन

ू ों पर प्रयोगशाला अध्ययन/
Laboratory investigations on samples received from RMRE and BSOI Groups.

1) Bulk core sample of Borehole RMN-3, Ramaniya area, Barmer dist., Siwana ring complex,
Rajasthan, RMRE/ WR:
A bulk core sample of borehole RMN-3 comprising of aegirine
rich granite/ micro-granite, weighing about 6 kg from Ramaniya
area, Barmer dist., Siwana ring complex , Rajasthan was taken
up for physical beneficiation and hydrometallurgical studies for
recovery of REE, Y, Nb bearing minerals. (Sample received on
07/01/2021 from Shri S.K. Dehingia, SO/C, RMRE/WR vide
sample slip ID 1320201-03 dated 06/01/2021). Mineral processing studies were taken up during Jan.
2021 and being continued.
Leachability studies

The chemical analysis on the conventional hot agitation leaching tests (-100# ROM) conducted during
June-2021 at 900C temperature without using oxidant and also for longer period of contact time i.e. 8 &
12 hours received. The details are given in table 5.

Table 5 Conventional hot acid agitation leaching

acid concentration : 1.0 pH, Temp: 900C , pulp density: 60% solids
Oxidant % Leachability
Feed size MnO2
H2SO4 Contact time
MOG
kg/t In hours LREE HREE
Kg/t TREE Y
(Fractional) (Fractional)

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 -100# 126 6 10 59.00 60.00 57.00 56.64
-100# 126 8 10 61.56 61.91 60.97 59.98
-100# 126 12 10 42.90 37.70 51.51 51.28
-100# 126 6 Nil 66.88 68.00 66.09 64.83

The studies indicate that

 Maximum leachability of 66.8% of total REE, 64.83% Y obtained using 126 kg H2SO4/ t without
oxidant. Among the LREEs (La to Eu), maximum leachability of Sm: 72%, Nd: 69% are
obtained and in the HREEs (Gd- Lu), maximum leachability of Tb: 84%, Gd: 75% & Dy: 69.8%
are obtained.

 Treatment with MnO2 as oxidant and increase in agitation time from 6 hours to 12 hours did not
show improvement in REE leachability. Further a decrease in TREE leachability from 66.8% to
42.9% was indicated when the contact time is increased from 6 to 12 hours which may be due
to re-precipitation of leached REE content of leach liquor into the solid residue.

 Residue characterisation studies to examine mineral responsible for non-leachable REE,

liberation and association of REE with heavy and lights is under progress.

2) Spodumene (enriched) pegmatite grab sample, Mangalur, Yadgir dt., Karnataka, RMRE, SR.
A spodumene (enriched) pegmatite grab sample weighing about 30 kg from Mangalur area, Yadgir
dist., Karnataka was taken up for physical beneficiation studies to upgrade/ recover lithium bearing
minerals. (Sample received on 11/02/2021 from Shri K. Thillairaj, SO/D and Shri Pradeep Upadhyay,
SO/D RMRE/SR vide sample slip ID 1320104/20 dated 11/02/2021). Physical beneficiation studies
were taken up during Feb. 2021 and being continued.
Separation of Spodumene mineral concentrate for characterisation of spodumene mineral
concentrate and development of flowsheet for extraction of lithium at Mineral Processing
Division (Min.D), BARC
Physical beneficiation : The representative ROM feed sample (`12 kg) was crushed to -4mm size and
subjected to wet tabling followed by bromoform separation of the table concentrate to recover pure
spodumene mineral concentrate. A total of about 5 kg pure spodumene mineral concentrate was
recovered and handed over to Mineral Processing Division (Min.D), BARC, Hyderabad through Head,
PMSG, along with spodumene bearing pegmatite (ROM) weighing about 40 kg, for characterisation of
spodumene mineral concentrate and development of flow-sheet for extraction of lithium.
असैन्मेंट सं./Assignment No. 4.3: भू-समकालिक अध्ययन के लिए यूरेनिनाइट का पृथक्करण / Separation of uraninite for
Geochronological studies.

I) Core powder samples from Sarangapalli area, Guntur district, A.P

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 Five radioactive core powder sample weighing about 167 to 289 grams from Sarangapalli-Tangeda
area, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh were received from Head, MPG Group for separation of heavy
minerals for further Geochronological studies.(Assignment ID: 7020101, Sample slip ID: 7020101/4).
The samples were subjected to heavy media separation using bromoform and methylene iodide at
specific gravities of 2.89 and 3.3 to recover heavy minerals. Further, Ferro-magnetics were separated
from the heavy media separation products using hand magnet. Details are given in the table 6
Table 6 Heavy Media Separation of core powder feed sample
Methylene Ferromagnetic
Methylene Bromoform
iodide Total
iodide lights lights
S.No. heavies
Wt. Wt. Wt. Wt. Wt.
Sample No. %wt. %wt. %wt. %wt. %wt.
grams grams grams grams grams
211.54 212
1 SGP-37/B-2/50 0.11 0.05 0.18 0.08 0.17 0.08 99.79 100.00
205.49 210
2 SGP-28/B-1/37 1.00 0.48 0.08 0.04 3.43 1.63 97.85 100.00
163.37 167
3 SGP-28/B-2/42 0.08 0.05 0.03 0.02 3.52 2.11 97.82 100.00
229.46 230
4 SGP-31/B-1/16 0.20 0.09 0.17 0.07 0.17 0.07 99.77 100.00
288.32 289
5 SGP-45/B-2/58 0.34 0.12 0.23 0.08 0.11 0.04 99.76 100.00
The above test indicated 0.05% to 0.48% by weight of MI heavies (non-ferromagnetic), 0.02% to
0.08% ferro-magnetics. All the products are handed over to Head, MPG for further studies.

2) Davidite with rutile bearing mineral samples from Geratiyon ki Dhani, Sikar district,
Rajasthan
Five mineral samples of Davidite with rutile weighing about 85 to 165 grams from Geratiyon ki Dhani,
area, Sikar district, Rajasthan were received from Incharge, Geochronology Laboratory, MPG Group
for separation of heavy mineral concentrate for further Geochronological studies (Assignment ID:
5020206, Sample slip ID: 50202062301(S/Dvd-01), 50202062302 (S/Dvd-02), 50202062303 (N/Dvd-
03), 50202062304(N/Dvd-04), 50202062305 (BH/Dvd-05, BH: GKDC/30), 4 grab and 1 core samples
Sample slip ID 5020206/23, Sample received on 25/06/2021 vide sample slip dated 24/06/21).

Size reduction, heavy media and magnetic separation of feed samples

The mineral samples were hand pounded (ground) to -40# and subjected to heavy media
separation using bromoform and methylene iodide at specific gravities of 2.89 and 3.3. Ferro-
magnetics were separated from the heavy mineral products using a hand magnet which was found
to be in traces. Further, the MI heavy mineral fractions were subjected to magnetic separation at
10 & 14 kilogauss magnetic field intensities using Induced Roll magnetic separator (IRMS) for the
separation of individual davidite rich (10 KG intensity) and rutile rich (14 KG non-mags)
concentrates. The details are given in table 7.

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 Table 7 Heavy Media Separation of four grab and one core feed samples (40#)
Methylene Methylene
Methylene
iodide iodide
iodide Methylene Bromoform
heavies @ 14 heavies Non- Total
heavies @ iodide lights lights
kilogauss Magnetic @
S.No. Sample No. 10 kilogauss
14 kilogauss
Wt. Wt. Wt. Wt.
Wt. Wt.
gram %wt. gram %wt. gram %wt. %wt. %wt. gram %wt.
grams grams
s s s s
41.30 25.8 24.48 15.30 12.70 7.94 23.80 14.8 57.72 36.07 160 100
1 S/Dvd-01 1 8
66.10 40.0 9.90 6.00 4.40 2.67 44.6 27.0 40.00 24.24 165 100
2 S/Dvd-02 6 3
22.00 25.8 5.60 6.59 4.90 5.76 12.52 14.7 39.98 47.04 85 100
3 N/Dvd-03 8 3
24.80 25.5 6.70 6.91 5.50 5.67 29.52 30.4 30.48 31.42 97 100
4 N/Dvd-04 7 3
BH/Dvd-05 0.96 1.13 0.23 0.27 0.11 0.13 0.21 0.25 83.49 98.22 85 100
5 BH:
GKDC/30

The above test indicated 1.13% to 40.06% weight of MI heavies @10 Kilogauss magnetic (davidite
rich conc.), 0.27% to 15.30 weight MI heavies @ 14 kilogauss magnetic (middlings) 0.13 to 7.94% MI
heavies @ 14 Kilogauss non-magnetic (rutile rich) and 0.25% to 30.43% MI lights. All the products
are handed over to the sample originator for further studies.

3.Gneissic rock samples from Chota Udaipur area, Ajmer district, Rajasthan
Three polymetallic veins containing magnetite, sulphide, malachite straining in gneissic rock about
200 grams each were received from Head, MPG Group for separation of heavy mineral concentrate
for Geochronological studies (Sample ID 501930604, Assignment ID : 5020306, received on
29/06/21).
Size reduction: The samples was crushed and ground to -40# size using Jaw crusher and hand
pounding. Further work is in progress.

4.Grab samples from Mohuldih mines, East Singhbhum district, Jharkhand

Nine grab samples of chlorite quartz schist and quartzite from Mohuldih mines, East Singhbhum
district, Jharkhand weighing about 500-800 grams were received from Head, MPG Group for
separation of heavy mineral concentrate for Geochronological studies (Sample ID
302010102GC/Mi, Assignment ID : 3020101, received on 01/07/21).
Size reduction: The samples was crushed and ground to -40# size using Jaw crusher and hand
pounding. Further work is in progress.

Miscellaneous:
i) Associated in the preparation and submission of following reports
a) Bulk composite core sample from Bhatikhera area, Barmer dist., Rajasthan (n=1)
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 b) core powder samples of Sarangapalli-Tangeda, Guntur dist., A.P. (n=5)
c) Davidite with rutile bearing samples of Geratiyon ki Dhani, Sikar dist., Rajasthan (n=5).
ii) Associated with Incharge, MPU on the discussions of Achievements of the Mineral Processing
Unit 2020-2021 with Director, Additional Directors & other members on 02-07-2021.
iii) As a member of Technical Committee for Scrutinising Mining Plans Group (TCSM) attended to
the meeting for discussion & scrutiny of mining plans along with other members on 09-07-2021.
iv) Attended 72nd Annual Day Celebrations of AMD at HQ, Hyderabad through Webex link
v) Associated in the monthly monitoring of pH on the toxic waste water samples generated from
Tanks-1 and 4 received from Engineering Services Group. The effluent samples recorded 7.4 –
8.2 pH value which is within the prescribed limit.

(जी.वी.एस.उमामहे श्वर राव/G.V.S.Umamaheswara Rao)

वैज्ञानिक अधिकारी इ /Scientific Officer E