Description: The mineral processing laboratory is the core of Iran's mineral processing research center. After exploration, sampling, grading of the desired mineral or minerals, and reserve estimation, mining samples are delivered to the mineral processing laboratory to perform upgrading process. The initial technical feasibility study of the projects, research and investigation on the mineral processing process are carried out in the processing laboratory, and in case of confirmation and assurance, comprehensive research studies and full process investigation are performed. Initial design of processing processes in order to achieve the desired high-quality product, complete investigation of work aspects and the possibility of obtaining by-products and profits during the process, investigation of the preliminary technical and economic feasibility based on the data of the tests performed and the designed processes in order to the possibility of its implementation in larger semi-industrial and then industrial scales is the main task of the processing laboratory.

The processing laboratory is divided into several sections.

The first part includes sample preparation, crushing and classification. In the preparation and crushing part, there are crushing and grinding equipment, pulverizers, and dividers.  In classification part , screen analyzing equipment, cyclosizer, laser particle size Analyzer, and hydrocyclone are available. The second part is intended to determine Comminution indices, which includes Bond Impact index device, Abrasion Index Test Machine, ball and rod Bond mills test, and test to determine Autogenous Media Competency index. The third part is related to physical separation equipment, including gravity separation (shaking table, slime table, Nelson and jig separators), and magnetic separation (Davis tube, dry and wet Magnetic Separator with low intensity, disc magnet, Wet High-Intensity (variable ) High-Gradient Magnetic Separator , and Satmagan). The fourth part includes physico-chemical separation including flotation equipment including mechanical and column flotation and zeta potential analyzer. In the fifth section of pyrometallurgy, the center is equipped with several furnaces up to 2500 degrees Celsius. In the sixth section of hydrometallurgy, it is equipped with high pressure autoclave, column leaching, leaching equipment and cyanidation system. dewatering equipment is also available, which includes oven equipment, pressure filter, and vacuum.

Mineral processing laboratory department has carried out more than 605 research and service projects from the public and private sectors in the field of processing all kinds of minerals from small and large mines.

In the past years, the efforts of the processing laboratory department in the field of research and study of mineral processing have been to acquire local technical knowledge in the field of extracting various valuable and strategic elements.