haracterization and Beneficiation of Semnan Kaolin

There are many small kaolin deposits In Iran , which are
extracted and used in ceramic industry without any
treatment.
This investigation was aimed to study the ore and to
find whether a fine material can be produced for paper
usages.
The ore was studied by XRD, DTA, Optical and
scanning microscopy. Physical properties, such as
brightness were also examined. The main minerals ,
presented in Semnan kaolin, were kaolinite , quartz, iron
minerals and micas. Bleaching and high gradiant magnetic
separation were employed to reduce iron content and to
improve brightness. The results of HGMS were
encouraging as the brightness was increased from 63.4%
to 78.6%. Cationic flotation was used to decrease free
silica and abrasion index. The results were not positive at this stage.