Engineers of the design and engineering department of the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant (SMZ, located in the city of Solikamsk in the Perm Territory) have developed a hydroseparator for enriching loparite ore at the Lovozero Mining and Processing Plant (GOK). This was reported by the Rosatom press service.
Workers on the new equipment will be able to extract rare earth metals (REM) from the smallest fraction of loparite ore. Previously, this fraction was considered production waste, explained Vladimir Fedyakov, General Director of Lovozero GOK.
As far as we know, there is no similar equipment for enrichment either in Russia or abroad.
About industrial cooperation
Lovozero GOK supplies loparite ore mined on the Kola Peninsula to the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant. Collective carbonates of rare earth metals (lanthanum, neodymium) and tantalum and niobium oxides are produced from it.
REM are in demand in high-tech industries, including microelectronics, energy, space and military industries. Increasing the production of rare earth metals is the main condition for import independence and technological sovereignty of Russia.
