Sustainable Utilization of Fluorite Flotation Tailings Resources: a review

The rapid progression of novel energy materials has led to a sustained surge in global demand for fluorine resources. Fluorite represents the primary source of fluorine resources globally and is being increasingly exploited. The estimated annual production of fluorite worldwide stands at approximately 8 million tons, with an additional 5 million tons of fluorite tailings generated. This accumulation not only consumes land resources but also contributes to dust generation and F- percolation, leading to water and air contamination. This work reviews the comprehensive utilization methods of fluorite tailings, including flotation recovery of quartz and fluorite, as well as preparation of cement mineralizing agent, preparing concrete mineral additives, autoclaved lime sand brick, and glass-ceramics. Furthermore, potential future applications and research directions are proposed, including comprehensive recovery of valuable minerals, geopolymers preparation, and high-value preparation of zeolite-based functional materials. This work may serve as a reference to expedite the utilization of fluorite tailings, promote the development of tailing-free mines, and establish a sustainable development strategy.