Adverse effects on environment by the Iron Ore Industries - some measures to reduce them

Abstract

Important iron ore deposits occur in India in the eastern, central and southern parts in the states of Jharkhand, Orissa, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Goa etc.Geologically, the Eastern Indian iron ores belong to Archean Iron Ore Group (I0G). Singhbhum-Orissa iron ore belt in the eastern India has abundant reserves of iron ore in the form of horse shoe belt. The soft laminated ore, goethitic-lateritic ores, friable ore and blue dust abundantly occur-in this region and are very soft and friable in nature: Large amount of fines and slimes arc generated during mining, washing, crushing and screening processes of these ores. These fines and slimes are relatively lower grade and are not suitable for use in blast furnace. Hence these fines and slimes are either dumped as stocks at the mine or perm-anently lost due to lack of proper beneficiation facilit-ies.