OREANDA-NEWS. On 13 March 2009 was announced, that Kovdorsky GOK, OJSC incorporated into the Mineral and Chemical Company EuroChem is implementing the investment project for modernization of the complex of joint processing of ore and baddeleyite-apatite sands of the technogenic deposit of the first field of the tailing pit.

The project is aimed at resolution of one of the priority tasks of the strategic program for development of Kovdorsky GOK – increase of output of apatite and baddeleyite concentrates. Within the framework of implementation of this project a principally new technology has been developed for production of coarse-grained and close-grained baddeleyite concentrates and processing thereof.

At present hydraulic cyclone produced by the firm Cetco have been installed, works are being carried out for replacement of conical separators with spiral ones produced by the firm Roshe Mining and assembly of screens of the firm Derrik.

Implementation of new technology and modernization of equipment will allow for increase of mining of baddeleyite and increase output of the baddeleyite concentrate by more than 2 thousand tons per year.

Improvement of the technology for production of the baddeleyite concentrate, improvement of its quality and increase of output volumes will permit to satisfy the growing demand on the part of domestic and foreign consumers for zirconium containing raw materials.

The unique baddeleyite concentrate the sole world producer of which is Kovdorsky GOK is used in the course of production of abrasives, refractory materials, electronics, fine ceramic, pigments and colorants. The main practical properties of materials and articles made from the baddeleyite powder are high refractoriness, low coefficient of thermal expansion, resistance against chemical effects.