Influence of Strong Electromagnetic Pulses on Efficiency of Disintegration and Magnetic Separation of Ferruginous Quartzite

The article describes a pilot plant generator of high-voltage nanosecond pulses for energy treatment of ore at the pretreatment stage at the capacity of up to 1 t/h of mineral raw materials. The mineralogical and chemical analyses of ferruginous quartzite are carried out. The distribution of aggregates per size grades is described, and the lab-scale and larger scale bench testing data of the equipment are reported. The experiments have proved efficiency of preliminary treatment of the first and second stage milling sands by strong electromagnetic pulses for the ferruginous quartzite softening and for the magnetic separation intensification. The interconnection is found between the impregnation of ore and rock-forming minerals, efficiency of disintegration of mineral aggregates, their release and the treatment dose. The main effect of treatment of ferruginous quartzite by strong electromagnetic pulses, with the increase in the yield of the final size grade of –45 $$\mu$$ m by 1.4–4.8% at the increased recovery of iron in magnetic concentrate by 2.65%, is conditioned by the decrease in the number of ore and barren rock aggregates and by the increase in the content of free magnetite grains in the size grade of –0.16+0.04 mm after milling by 14.2%.