beneficiated

Beneficiated refers to ore or mineral material that has undergone processing to improve its economic value by increasing the concentration of valuable minerals and removing impurities. Beneficiation encompasses a range of physical and chemical processes applied to mined material before smelting or refining, with the aim of improving ore grade, reducing gangue, and facilitating handling and transport.

Common methods include crushing and grinding (comminution), followed by separation and concentration steps such as screening and classification, gravity separation, magnetic separation, flotation, and, in some cases, electrostatic separation or sensor-based ore sorting. After the primary separations, dewatering and drying are performed, and the resulting concentrate may be prepared for further processing (for example, pelletizing or briquetting) to produce feed suitable for smelters or refiners.

Beneficiation is widely applied to iron ore, coal, base metals, and many industrial minerals. Not all ores require beneficiation; some may be shipped as run-of-mine ore or require only simple sorting, while others undergo extensive processing to reach saleable quality. The term distinguishes beneficiation from refining, which chemically purifies a metal after extraction, and from smelting.

Environmental and economic considerations include energy and water use, tailings generation, and the potential for improved ore recovery and processing efficiency due to higher concentrate grades.