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Research Paper

Influence of Mineral Composition on Grinding Behavior and Flotation Performance of Low-Grade Domestic Graphite Ore

국내 저품위 흑연광의 광물 조성에 따른 분쇄 거동 및 부유선별 성능의 영향

Donghyun Kim1
,
Jaemin Ahn1
,
Sunghyun Bae12
,
Serin Kang1
,
Seongsoo Han12
,
Wonjae Lee1
,
Seongmin Kim1
,
Ki Min Roh1
,
Seungwook Shin3
,
Yosep Han12*
김 동현1
,
안 재민1
,
배 성현12
,
강 세린1
,
한 성수12
,
이 원재1
,
김 성민1
,
노 기민1
,
신 승욱3
,
한 요셉12*
1Resources Utilization Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), 124 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34132, Republic of Korea
2Resources Engineering, University of Science Technology (UST), 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
3Mineral Resources Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), 124 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34132, Republic of Korea
1한국지질자원연구원 자원활용연구본부
2과학기술연합대학원대학교 KIGAM 스쿨 자원공학
3한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부
*Corresponding Author
31 December 2025. pp. 82-93
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Abstract

In this study, the mineralogical characteristics, grinding efficiency, and flotation of two low-grade natural graphite ores from different domestic regions (GA and GP) were the subject of a comparative investigation. Despite the similarity in total carbon content between the GA (19.35 %) and GP (17.17 %) graphite, the results of XRF and XRD analyses demonstrated significant disparities in oxide and mineral compositions. The mineral assemblages present in the GA graphite were dominated by quartz and muscovite, while in the GP graphite, quartz and epidote were predominant. This indicates clear variations in the mineral composition present in the two graphite ores. SEM-EDS analysis revealed that the graphite crystals present in the GA graphite exhibited a generally larger size when compared to those found in the GP graphite. The rod-mill grinding test demonstrated that as grinding time increased, the particle size decreased for both graphite ores; however, the GA graphite exhibited coarse particle sizes under identical grinding conditions. The Bond Work Index (BWI) values of GA (13.25 kWh/t) and GP (11.15 kWh/t) confirmed the higher grinding resistance of the GA graphite, consistent with the rod-mill results. In flotation experiments, the GA graphite demonstrated optimal performance at 15 minutes of grinding, exhibiting a grade of 26.42 % and a recovery of 89.61 %. In contrast, the GP graphite attained its maximum performance at 30 minutes, achieving a grade of 43.99 % and a recovery of 84.87 %. The findings indicate that the difference in flotation performance between the two graphite ores is primarily governed by mineral composition, rather than carbon content. It is recommended that future research efforts concentrate on the optimization of flotation reagent conditions, including depressants, frothers, and collectors. These conditions should be based on the particular mineral characteristics of the gangue, with the objective of achieving maximum recovery of high-grade graphite.

Keywords
Natural graphite ore
mineral composition
particle size distribution
Bond Work Index (BWI)
Flotation

본 연구에서는 국내 다른 두 지역 저품위 흑연광을 대상으로 광물학적 특성, 분쇄 및 부유선별 특성을 비교하였다. 두 지역 금암 (GA)와 가평 (GP) 흑연광의 총 탄소함량 (GA 19.35 %, GP 17.17 %)은 비슷하였으나, XRF 및 XRD 분석 결과 산화물 함량과 광물 조성에서 뚜렷한 차이를 보였다. GA 흑연광은 석영과 백운모가, GP 흑연광은 석영과 녹렴석이 우세하게 존재하여 서로 다른 광물 조성이 나타났다. SEM-EDS를 통한 흑연 결정크기를 분석한 결과, GA 흑연광이 GP 흑연광 보다 결정크기가 큰 것을 확인하였다. 두 시료 모두 분쇄시간이 증가함에 따라 입도가 감소하였으나, 동일한 분쇄 조건에서 GA 흑연광이 GP 흑연광보다 상대적으로 입도가 큰 것을 확인하였다. 또한, GA 및 GP의 분쇄일지수는 각각 13.25 kWh/t 그리고 11.15 kWh/t로 확인되었다. 부유선별 결과, GA 흑연광은 분쇄 시간 15분에서 정광 품위 26.42 %, 회수율 89.61 %로 최적 조건을 보였으며, GP 흑연광은 30분에서 품위 43.99 %, 회수율 84.87 %로 최적 조건을 보였다. 이러한 결과로 두 지역 흑연광의 선광 성능 차이가 탄소 함량보다 광물 조성차이에 의한 분쇄 후 입도 분포의 차이가 영향을 미치는 것으로 확인되었다. 향후 연구에서는 각 흑연광을 구성하는 맥석 광물의 특성에 따라 억제제, 기포제 및 포수제 등의 시약 조건을 최적화하여 고품위 흑연 회수를 극대화할 수 있는 부유선별 공정 개발이 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

키워드
천연 흑연광
광물 조성
입도분포
분쇄일지수
부유선별
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Institute of Resources Recycling
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원리싸이클링학회
  • Journal Title :Resources Recycling
  • Journal Title(Ko) :자원리싸이클링
  • Volume : 34
  • No :6
  • Pages :82-93
  • Received Date : 2025-11-12
  • Revised Date : 2025-12-13
  • Accepted Date : 2025-12-17
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7844/kirr.2025.34.6.82
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