Trace muscovite dissolution separation from vein quartz by elevated temperature and pressure acid leaching using sulphuric acid and ammonia chloride solutions

Effects of sulphuric acid and ammonia chloride on muscovite dissolution were studied in acid leaching of vein quartz under elevated temperature and pressure. The leaching processes have been studied in detail by analyzing sources of impurity minerals, optimizing leaching process, analyzing leaching kinetics of Al in muscovite and charactering leaching mechanism of muscovite. The results showed that elements of Al and K mainly occurred in muscovite, and 98.10% or more of muscovite could be removed by acid leaching, while the process had limited influence on the particle size of quartz sand. Leaching of Al in the quartz ore was mainly controlled by chemical reaction. A calcination process and ammonia chloride were used for reducing chemical reaction resistance by damaging crystal structure of muscovite and providing stable acid leaching environment. Combined with the calcination process, muscovite, as a main gangue mineral, was effectively extracted during acid leaching of vein quartz at elevated temperature and pressure.