Classification of Iron ore Fines at Hamerslev Iron's Paraburdoo Mine

Abstract

To improve its strategic position in the iron ore fines market, Hamersley Iron Pty. Ltd. investigated a number of options for improving quality of fines by reducing the level of gangue. As a result of this a processing plant was constructed to deslime the fines product from its mines at Paraburdoo in the Pilbara region of Western Australia . Improvements made to both the chemical and physical characteristics of the processed fines were also expected to improve its sintering performance. classif-ication to remove ultralne material is able to improve the quality of the fines as the predominant gangue mineral, kaolinite, has a finer size distribution than the iron bearing minerals, hematite and goethire. Lab scale and pilot plant studies indicated that 30% of the total alumina content could be removed with 10% weight loss through destiming at 0.01mm. This upgradation would reduce the alumina content of the Paraburdoo fines from 2.7% to 2. 1 % A1,0j and the final Hamersley blend for shipping from 2. 45% to 2. 2% Al2O3.This paper examines the background to the decisions for installing this plant as well as disc-ussing the plant circuit and the impact of the problems associated with dewatering the cyclone underf ort.