Technological Characterization of Iron Ore Tailing From Mineração Congonhas Beneficiation Plant, Brazil: An Identification of Optimum Process Route

Abstract

Technological characterization was used to define an iron ore processing route for the fraction (-8.00 +3.00 mm) with 55.00% of Fe content and 17.20% of SiO 2. Even having a considerable content of iron, this fraction was stored in waste piles since there was no previously interest for this fraction processing in the iron ore treatment facility of Mineração Congonhas in Catas Altas, Brazil. The characterization comprised mineralogical, chemical, granulometric and density analyzes. For the identification of the optimum process route two concentration methods were used, both in a bench scale and using a rougher stage: Route 1 consisted of a jigging and Route 2 used magnetic separation. The optimum concentration was encountered using the magnetic separation circuit, where the mass and metallurgical recovery were, respectively, 86.60% and 95.96, with a concentrate of 60.94% Fe and 10.91% SiO 2 content, which can then be further processed in a cleaner stage to meet the company's requirements.

Optimization of magnetic separation of hematite contained in the depressed product from vazante mine s zinc ore flotation

“…Tailings dams have been the preferred method of disposal of such materials [3]. However, recent dam breach events in Brazil [4] and the growing demand for mineral goods [5] have enhanced the appeal of alternative tailings disposal methods and a more effective recovery of minerals contained in such tailings [3,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. For both economic and socioenvironmental reasons, the mining industry has sought to identify these materials' applicability by recovering more products in mineral processing plants.…”