ABSTRACT
Fluorite concentrate is used in chemical, ceramic, optical and metallurgical industries. By the annual fluorite consumption in the world, metallurgy takes the third place, while in Yugoslavia, metallurgy is on the second place after the chemical industry. Number of ore veins that is able to give the coarse-pieces of fluorite concentrate, has decreased. This is the main reason of using the agglomeration process for the floated concentrate to obtain coarse pieces of fluorite that is used as a fluxing agent in ferrous metallurgy. In that regard, this research was done with two aims: to determine possibilities of obtaining fluorite concentrate pellets by the use of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) as a binder; and to determine the influence of pelletization conditions on the quality of the fluorite pellets, from "Ravnaja-Krupanj" deposit. Influences of binder type and pelletization conditions on the mechanical characteristics of finished products (impact and stress resistance of fluorite pellets), with the aim to obtain a high quality of fluorite pellets, were investigated with particular attention. Chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis of powder, grain size analysis and determination of impact and pressure resistance of pellets were the methods used in the research. Internal standard of latent user, metallurgical concern "Sartid-1913", was used as determination criteria of quality. It was concluded that change of pelletization conditions (quantity of binder, time of homogenization, amount of added water, etc.) makes significant changes of pellets quality, and that fluorite flotation concentrate from "Ravnaja- Krupanj" deposit could be successfully pelletized with soda-waterglass binder. The main conclusion is: possible high-quality substitution of imported coarse-pieces fluorite in the domestic metallurgy.
