Development of the principles of an integrated process for extraction of high-purity graphite, gold, and rare earths from carbonaceous rocks

Abstract

Graphite-bearing rocks of the Ruzhinskaya area (Primorskii Krai, Russia) were found to contain high concentrations of noble and rare earth metals. Industrial exploration of these reserves is restrained by the lack of concentration technique. The application of hydrometallurgy for the production of useful components was studied for the first time. A prospective plan of integrated extraction of high-purity graphite, gold and rare earths using hydrogen fluoride treatment of flotation concentrates was designed.