The scandium distribution state of Xinjiang copper and scandium ore was studied by flotation, magnetic separa¬tion, chemical separation and analysis technology such as XRF, XRD and ICP. It is shown that Xinjiang copper and scandium ore mainly contains albite, calcite, chlorite, magnetite and talc minerals, with contents of 52.97%, 16.36%, 15.11%, 8.08% and 7.48%, respectively. It has copper content of 0.6344% and scandium content of 20 g • t-1. Scandium content in copper concentrate obtained by using floatation is 9.55 g • t-1, in iron concentrate obtained with magnetie separation 45.33 g • t-1, in albite concentrate obtained by chemical separation 19.00 g • t-1, in calcite 24.48 g • t-1, in chlorite 10.12 g • t-1 and in talc 5.06 g • t-1. 82.50% of scandium in Xinjiang copper and scandium ore is contained in iron minerals, albite and calcite.
Metallurgical processes for scandium recovery from various resources are reviewed. Scandium is mainly recovered as by-product from residues, tailings and waste liquors in the production of other metals such as rare earths, uranium, titanium, tungsten, aluminium, nickel, tantalum and niobium. Bauxite and nickel laterite ores are proposed as the most promising scandium resources for its production. Currently, the methods combined with hydro- and pyro-metallurgical processes, including ore pre-treatment, leaching, solvent extraction, precipitation and calcination, are commonly used for scandium recovery. New technologies for scandium recovery such as selective leaching and solvent extraction are possible development direction in the future.