All-Russian Scientific-Research Institute of Mineral Resources named after N. M. Fedorovsky (Moscow, Russia)
Kurkov A. V., Chief Researcher, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Professor, kurkov@vims-geo.ru
Anufrieva S. I., Head of Department, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, anufrieva@vims-geo.ru
Borodina E. K., Leading Specialist, borodina@vims-geo.ru
Rakhimov Kh. K., Engineer, rakhimov@vims-geo.ru

This study investigates the flotation beneficiation of low-grade graphite ores characterized by high ash content and finely disseminated flake graphite. An optimized process is proposed, involving coarse primary grinding, classification of the main flotation concentrate at a 0.1 mm cut size, abrasive regrinding of the +0.1 mm fraction, and separate cleaner flotation for the +0.1 mm and –0.1 mm size fractions. In the third-stage cleaner flotation of the +0.1 mm fraction, a high-grade graphite concentrate was obtained with 95.39 wt.% graphitic carbon, 0.92 wt.% sulfur, and 3.59 wt.% ash. Graphite recovery reached 46.70 % from the ore, or 92.92 % from the classified product. The flake structure of the graphite in the concentrate was preserved, as confirmed by optical and mineralogical analyses. The resulting concentrate meets the specifications of premium graphite grades GK-3, GS-4 (ash content < 5 %) and grade P (ash content < 7 %) as per GOST 17022–81. For the –0.1 mm fraction, third-stage cleaner flotation yielded a concentrate with 63.77 wt.% graphitic carbon, 13.84 wt.% sulfur, and 24.63 wt.% ash, corresponding to grade GLS-4 foundry graphite. Graphite recovery was 39.27% from the ore, or 92.10% from the classified product. Overall, the calculated recovery of graphite into the combined concentrate amounted to 85.95% of the initial ore, with a graphite carbon content of 77.77 wt.%, sulfur content of 8.12 wt.%, and ash content of 15.31 wt.%. This corresponds to foundry graphite grades GL-2.3 and GLS-2.3.4. The developed flotation technology significantly improves the efficiency of beneficiation for complex, fine-grained flake graphite ores of low grade.

1. Vasumathi N., Anshuli Sarjekar, Hrishikesh Chandrayan, et al. A mini review on flotation techniques and reagents used in graphite beneficiation. International Journal of Chemical Engineering. 2023, March 21. DOI: 10.1155/2023/1007689
2. Bulatovic S. M. Handbook of flotation reagents: Chemistry, theory and practice flotation of industrial minerals. Vol. 3. Elsevier B. V., 2015. 222 p.
3. Luzin V. P., Vafin R. F., Permyakov E. N., et al. Comprehensive mineralogical and technological studies of graphite ores at the Chebere deposit in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Scientific foundations and modern processes for complex processing of refractory mineral raw materials (Plaksin Readings 2010). Kazan, September 13–18, 2010. pp. 233–237.
4. Ranjana Yadav, Ashok Kumar Sharma, Sarita Sharma. Advance development in natural graphite material and its applications: A review. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. 2025. Vol. 42. pp. 361–385.
5. Ashish Kumar Ghosh. Literature quest and survey on graphite beneficiation through flotation. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2024. Vol. 189, Pt. A. DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2023.113980
6. Chizhevsky V. B., Fadeeva N. V., Gmyzina N. V. Study of the properties and floatability of oxidized graphite. Obogashchenie Rud. 2019. No. 4. pp. 20–24.
7. Chizhevsky V. B., Fadeeva N. V., Gmyzina N. V. Floatability of graphite with hydrocarbons and oxygen containing compounds. Vestnik Magnitogorskogo Gosudarstvennogo Tekhnicheskogo Universiteta im. G. I. Nosova. 2018. No. 3. pp. 5–16.
8. Vasumathi N., Vijaya Kumar T. V., Ratchangai S., Subba R. S., Bhasrau R. G. Flotation studies on low grade graphite ore from Eastern India. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. 2015. Vol. 25, Iss. 3. pp. 415–420.
9. Khanchuk A. I., Didenko A. N., Rasskazov I. Yu., Berdnikov N. V., Aleksandrova T. N. Graphite-bearing shales as a promising resource of precious metals in the Russian Far East. Vestnik DVO RAN. 2010. No. 3. pp. 3–12.
10. Fenfen Fenda Florena, Fahmi Syarifuddin, Eko Sulistio Haman, et al. Floatability study of graphite ore from Southeast Sulawesi (Indonesia). AIP Conference Proceedings. 2016. Vol. 1712, Iss. 1. 7 p. DOI: 10.1063/1/.4941888
11. Fadeeva N. V., Orekhova N. N., Kolodezhnaya E. V., Musatkina E. N. Study of disintegration processes and dynamic classification of graphite-containing dust from metallurgical production. Obogashchenie Rud. 2023. No. 6. pp. 39–46.
12. Sun K., Qui I., Zhang I. Preserving flake size in an African flake graphite ore beneficiation using a modified grinding and pre-screening process. Minerals. 2017. Vol. 7, Iss. 7. 13 p. DOI: 10.3390/min7070115
13. Sadullaev B. S. Beneficiation of fine-crystalline graphite ores of the Taskazgan deposit. Сollected papers of LXVII International scientific-practical conference «EurasiaScience». Moscow: Research and Publishing Center «Actualnots.RF», 2025. pp. 27–30.
14. Chehreh Chelgani S., Rudolph M., Kratzsch R. et al. A review of graphite beneficiation techniques. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review. 2016. Vol. 37, Iss. 1. pp. 58–68.
15. Vasumathi N., Vijaya Kumar T. V., Ratchambigai S., et al. Single reagent for graphite flotation. Proc. of the ХIII International seminar on mineral processing technology (MPT-2013). pp. 145–153.
16. Beijing – Tianjin – Hebei create «carbon valley» for innovative carbon fibres. Window to China. URL: https://window-to-china.de/2023/04/19/beijing-tianjin-hebeicreate-carbon-valley-for-innovative-carbon-fibres/ (accessed: 14 October 2025).
17. State report «On the state and use of mineral resources of the Russian Federation in 2022». Moscow: VIMS, 2023. 640 p.
18. Nazarenko L. N., Bazunova T. A., Shikhov N. V. Features of graphite ore processing at the Topolikhinsky section of the Soyuznoye deposit in order to obtain largeflake concentrate. Proc. of the XXI International scientific and technical conference «Scientific foundations and practice of processing ores and man-made raw materials». Ekaterinburg: Fort Dialog-Iset′, 2016. pp. 37–41.
19. Abramov A. A. Flotation beneficiation methods. Moscow: Gornaya Kniga, 2008. 711 p.
20. Fadeeva N. V., Orekhova N. N., Kolodezhnaya E. V., Nigmatova N. N. Study on the physical and chemical regularities of the kish graphite flotation process. Vestnik Magnitogorskogo Gosudarstvennogo Tekhnicheskogo Universiteta im. G. I. Nosova. 2022. Vol. 20, No. 4. pp. 37–46.