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Sodium stannate (Na2SnO3) has been successfully prepared by a novel process of roasting cassiterite concentrates and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) under CO−CO2 atmosphere, namely soda roasting-leaching process. However, more than 22 wt. % tin of the cassiterite was not converted into Na2SnO3 and entered the leach residues. Quartz (SiO2) is the predominant gangue in the cassiterite, and phase evolution of SnO2−SiO2−Na2CO3 system roasted under CO−CO2 atmosphere was still uncertain. In this study, the effect of SiO2 in cassiterite concentrates on preparation of Na2SnO3 was clarified. The results indicated that Na8SnSi6O18 was inevitably formed when cassiterite and Na2CO3 were roasted above 775 °C under CO−CO2 atmosphere via the reaction of SnO2 + 6SiO2 + 4Na2CO3 = Na8SnSi6O18 + 4CO2, and formation of Na8SnSi6O18 would be increased with increasing roasting temperature and Si/Sn mole fraction. In addition, it was found that Na8SnSi6O18 was insoluble in the leachate at pH value range of 1−14, which, therefore, was enriched in the leach residues. The silicon content of the cassiterite concentrates should be controlled as lower as possible to obtain a higher conversion ratio of Na2SnO3.

The Mesoproterozoic Kibara belt (KIB) and the Karagwe-Ankole Belt (KAB) in Central Africa are characterized by the presence of numerous rare metal mineralized Sn-(Nb-Ta) pegmatites and Sn-W mineralised quartz veins that are related to a S-type granite generation formed at 986 ± 10 Ma. Cassiterite concentrates have been studied by different petrographic and mineralogical techniques. The concentrates have been collected from the rock and mineral collection of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) and originate from historical exploitations of eluvial and alluvial cassiterite deposits. No quantitative study of the concentrates has been envisaged since no information is available about the history of the samples prior to sampling. Microscopic investigation revealed the presence of cassiterite crystals with metallic and non-metallic luster, of which the latter show growth zoning. The color from the cassiterite crystals can vary from transparent colorless to black non-transparent. The variation in color in a single grain can be as varied as the color variation between grains for an entire concentrate. The mineralogical composition of the cassiterite concentrates contains minerals that are typical gangue and accessory minerals in the primary mineralization and that were liberated dufing weathering. In addition, minerals can be round that result from the weathering from the metasedimentary and doleritic host-rocks of the primary mineralization. Except the occasional presence of a certain mineral or a special color for a certain cassiterite, no systematic variation can be observed between the concentrates from the different locations. Often, the mineral and color variation in one concentrate can be as large as for concentrates round from different locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium stannate (Na2SnO3) has been successfully prepared by a novel process of roasting cassiterite concentrates and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) under CO–CO2 atmosphere, namely soda roasting-leaching process. However, more than 22 wt. % tin of the cassiterite was not converted into Na2SnO3 and entered the leach residues. Quartz (SiO2) is the predominant gangue in the cassiterite, and phase evolution of SnO2–SiO2–Na2CO3 system roasted under CO–CO2 atmosphere was still uncertain. In this study, the effect of SiO2 in cassiterite concentrates on preparation of Na2SnO3 was clarified. The results indicated that Na8SnSi6O18 was inevitably formed when cassiterite and Na2CO3 were roasted above 775 °C under CO–CO2 atmosphere via the reaction of SnO2 + 6SiO2 + 4Na2CO3 = Na8SnSi6O18 + 4CO2, and formation of Na8SnSi6O18 would be increased with increasing roasting temperature and Si/Sn mole fraction. In addition, it was found that Na8SnSi6O18 was insoluble in the leachate at pH value range of 1–14, which, therefore, was enriched in the leach residues. The silicon content of the cassiterite concentrates should be controlled as lower as possible to obtain a higher conversion ratio of Na2SnO3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]