A comparative mineralogical and geochemical characterisation of iron ores from two Indian Precambrian deposits and Krivoy rog deposit, Ukraine: implications for the upgrading of lean grade ore

Abstract

Iron ores from two important Precambrian belts in India are studied in detail. The first of these is the Jilling-Langalota deposit, hosted by banded iron formations along with generations of shales, tuffs belonging to Iron Ore Group of Eastern India and is hosted in the Singhbhum-North Orissa Craton. The second group of ores is from the Chitradurga basin in Eastern Dharwar Craton, Southern India. These form part of the Archaean greenstone belts and show a typical oxide–carbonate–sulphide association. The Jilling-Langalota deposit contains considerable amounts of blue dust that is absent in the Chitradurga deposit. Comparisons are made between the Indian iron ores and those of the Krivoy Rog province of the Central Ukrainian Shield. The Indian iron ores are relatively richer in Fe and contain higher amounts of alumina and phosphorous compared with those of the Krivoy Rog deposit. The Indian iron ore samples contain porous and friable oxides and hydroxides of iron with kaolinite, gibbsite and quartz. In contrast, the ores from Krivoy Rog are massive with negligible clay and a higher quartz content leading to very low alumina and very high silica contents in the ores and slime. The Indian ores and slimes are manganiferous in nature with high alumina, which is deleterious to processing and is due to the presence of intercalated tuffaceous shales and clay. The Eastern Indian iron ore deposits could have been formed due to enrichment of the primary ore by gradual removal of silica. It is believed that the massive ores result from direct precipitation while powdery blue dust is formed owing to circulating fluids, which leach away the silica from the protore. The host rock is exhalatic banded iron formation and the ubiquitous presence of intercalated tuffaceous shales point towards a genesis that could have involved Fe leaching from sea floor volcanogenic rocks. The nature of these ores along with the parting shale is responsible for production of large amounts of alumina rich slime during mining and handling. The detailed mineralogical characterisation studies aided by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy—energy dispersive spectroscopy, physical parameters and chemical characteristics have indicated the presence of various mineral phases and established the nature of iron-bearing and gangue assemblages of the bulk ores and slime samples from the three iron ore deposits. These in turn are useful in understanding the amenability of the ores and slimes for beneficiation and waste utilisation.