Mineralogical analysis and beneficiation assessment to unlock the lithium potential in Kenticha pegmatite ore

Gutema Mekonen, Mineral Industry Development Institute, Ministry of Mines, P.O. Box 486, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaFollow
Mulugeta Sisay, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, P.O BOX 378, Jimma, Ethiopia,
Goitom Gebreyohannes, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia

Author ORCID Identifier

Gutema Mekonen: 0009-0002-5184-8602

Mulugeta Sisay: 0009-0007-3574-3516

Goitom Gebreyohannes: 0000-0003-1308-3282

Abstract

Lithium is utilized in various industries, especially currently Lithium-ion batteries are employed in electric vehicles and portable electronic devices as an energy source, in pharmaceutical industries, aerospace applications, glass and ceramics production, lubricants and greases, air purification systems, nuclear power, and aluminum production. The Kenticha pegmatite ore deposit in Ethiopia holds potential, and this study analyzed the mineralization of Kenticha spodumene ore and assessed its suitability for beneficiation by employing X-ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), and petrographic microscope analysis. The study determined the mineral composition, average composition, and texture of spodumene pegmatite ore for spodumene concentrate liberation. Based on this, spodumene was determined to be the most abundant mineral, with weight percentages ranging from 13.7% to 50.2% across different ore samples. The grain size distribution analysis indicated that the majority of spodumene particles were larger than 63 μm, with a notable proportion falling between 106 μm and 600 μm. Estimated grain sizes included approximately 210 μm (D₅₀), 97 μm (D₇₅), 63 μm (D₁₀₀), and 80 μm (P₇₀). These findings offer valuable insights into the particle size characteristics of spodumene, enabling the optimization of mineral processing techniques and the selection of appropriate beneficiation strategies for the Kenticha deposit.

Recommended Citation

Mekonen, Gutema; Sisay, Mulugeta; and Gebreyohannes, Goitom (2025) "Mineralogical analysis and beneficiation assessment to unlock the lithium potential in Kenticha pegmatite ore," Journal of Sustainable Mining: Vol. 24 : Iss. 1 , Article 6.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.46873/2300-3960.1440