Beneficiation response of a low grade iron ore from eastern India for the production of sinter and pellet feed

Abstract

Iron ore quality in India over the period of time, is getting lesser and less in iron content due to continual increase in consumption of good grade ores. There is an urgent need to look for the use of low grade iron ores to meet the current demand. In the present paper, beneficiation response of a low grade iron ore from Eastern India for the production of sinter and pellet feed has been investigated. The low grade iron ore sample contains both lumps and fines. It is mostly hematitic iron ore and considerable amount of goethitic/limonitic material is also present in it. The major impurities present were quartz and clay. It is observed that the iron bearing phases are poorly liberated above 300 µm. However, below 300 µm the liberation suddenly improves reaching about 70% below the size fraction 250 µm and about 80% liberation is achieved below 150 µm. Keeping in mind to produce sinter fines, the ROM material was stage crushed to pass 6.3 mm and the product was subjected to washing, scrubbing followed by screening. Beneficiation studies such as jigging, tabling and WHIMS were carried out on different screened products and results are discussed. A total of ~28% with Fe > 65% sinter material and 50% with Fe > 64.5% pellet material could be achieved from low grade iron ore using the present flowsheet.