Mineralogy and Geochemistry of A Low Grade Iron Ore Sample from Bellary-Hospet Sector, India and Their Implications on Beneficiation

Abstract

The gradual depletion of high-grade iron ores has necessitated the exploitation of low/off grade iron ore reserves of India. The role of geochemical and mineralogical characterization is paramount to arrive at the process flow sheet development for such complex ores. Detailed studies were conducted on iron ores of Bellary-Hospet sector using microscope, XRD, TG, and EPMA techniques. The results indicate that hematite is the major iron oxide mineral with minor amounts of goethite, magnetite, martite and limonite with quartz and clay as major gangue. There is no evidence of the presence of any iron silicate and iron carbonate minerals. Trace amounts of pyrite were observed under the microscope and is the only iron sulphide phase. Microscopic studies also indicated that most of the quartz grains are present as inclusions within the hematite and magnetite grains. XRD studies revealed hematite as the major mineral with subordinate amounts of goethite, quartz and kaolinite confirming to the microscopic findings. Qualitative mapping and quantitative EPMA studies on these ores indicated the presence of gibbsite as the only alumina bearing phase and apatite as phosphorous bearing mineral. Traces of alumina, present as solid solution in the iron oxide minerals, has also contributed Al 2 O 3 to the ores. Electron microscopic studies revealed that gibbsite grains are in the size range of 10 to 50 microns and are intimately and intricately associated with the iron oxide phases. Major elemental analyses of 47 representative iron ore samples of various types were analyzed to deduce the source of silica and alumina's contributing phases in the ore and their interrelationships. The geochemistry data revealed negative correlation of Fe 2 O 3 with silica and alumina thus indicating there is no iron silicate phase as well as alumina contribution from iron 116

Genesis of langrial iron ore of hazara area, khyber pakhtunkhaw, parkistan

“…Certain localites Like Danna Noral and Najafpur shows hematite ores with iron content (40-50% Fe), such hematite deposits require little beneficiation. Rao, (2009). Aluminum silica ratio in our samples is less than 1 which is good for beneficiation (Table2 and 3) but alumina raises the melting point of slag and increases fuel consumption in the furnace.…”

Quantitative analysis of iron ore using SEM-based technologies

“…Duncumb (1999) gave a detailed and anecdotal review of the history of EPMA. Rao et al (2009) presented an example of how microprobe data can be used to help characterize an iron ore.…”

Interactive Effect of Copper and Its Mineral Collectors on Soil Microbial Activity—A Microcalorimetric Analysis

“…To meet the growing demand in metals, billions of tons ores are annually processed through flotation, consuming a huge amount of flotation reagents, 10 to more than 300 g of xanthates per ton of ore [10] [13]. Due to the gradual depletion of high-grade ore reserves over time, exploiting low-grade and complex ores [14] [15] necessitates an increase in the amount of ore processed and higher xanthates use. The flotation collector's growth rate consumption has been estimated to 2% -3% per year [12].…”