@Article{, title={UPGRADING OF MONTMORILLONITE CLAYSTONE (DIGMA FORMATION) FROM WADI BASHIRA, WESTERN DESERT, IRAQ}, author={Sahar N. Abdullah and Abdul Wahab A. Al-Ajeel}, journal={Iraqi Bulletin of Geology and Mining مجلة الجيولوجيا والتعدين العراقية}, volume={6}, number={2}, pages={149-157}, year={2010}, abstract={Wet beneficiation processing of Wadi Bashira Ca-montmorillonite claystone, which belongs to the Digma Formation, has been studied using tetrasodium pyrophosphate as dispersant agent. The claystone is located in the Western Desert of Iraq. It is of a low grade, associated with different amount of clay and non-clay mineral impurities. Calcite (CaCO3) constitutes the major proportion of these impurities. In this study, the effect of different parameters (slurry solid concentration, dispersant amount and dispersant/ slurry mixing times) on the efficiency of the beneficiation process were investigated and followed through the measurement of CaO% values of the upgraded claystone (concentrate). Gravity and centrifugal sedimentation were tested to separate the impurities from the clay suspension. The process variables were optimized and the yielded claystone was evaluated. It was shown that the beneficiation process was very effective in upgrading the montmorillonite claystone and capable of producing a high grade montmorillonite (89% montmorillonite) with CEC of 85 meq/100 gm.

} }