Abstract

MDACHI, D.D.; RUGAIKA, A.M.  and  MACHUNDA, R.L.. Valorization potentials of phosphate tailings at Minjingu mines in Northern Tanzania. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2024, vol.124, n.7, pp.415-420. ISSN 2411-9717.  https://doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2857/2024.

Sedimentary and igneous rocks are the two primary sources of phosphate that are mined and beneficiated to fertilizer. During the beneficiation process, phosphate is lost into the tailings. We investigated phosphate concentrations in tailings dumps at Minjingu mine, Tanzania using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to quantify the chemical compositions. The phosphate content in the tailings varied from 12.91% phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) in Tailings 2 to 19.61% in Tailings Dump 1. The naturally occurring phosphate concentration in rocks ranges from 3% to 35%, and phosphate tailings from various locations with P₂O₅ concentrations as low as 6.46-12.65% have been beneficiated to commercial fertilizer. Our investigation revealed that phosphate concentrations in Minjingu tailings may be sufficient to be recovered for commercial applications. Suitable recovery methods are discussed, and we recommend that beneficiation should be performed to minimize the loss of phosphate into tailings. Further research is needed to identify the optimal beneficiation methodology.

Keywords : phosphate tailings; valorization; Minjingu mine; phosphorus pentoxide; beneficiation.

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