Reducibility of Specular Hematite Iron ore samples of Nathara –Ki Pal Deposits, Rajasthan

Abstract

Reducibility characteristics of specular hematite iron ore samples of Daralmata and Amsivali sections of Nathara-Ki-Pal deposits, Udaipur, Rajasthan were studies with hydrogen as the reductant. The original lumpy iron ores were found to reduce with difficulty and the reduction did not proceed to more than 72 and 90 percent respectively in the case of Daralmata and Amsivali ores. The concentrates (-60 B.S.S>) obtained after beneficiation of the ores were briquetted and reducibility trials were carried out at different temperatures of 500° C and 4.5 liters per minutes flow rate of hydrogen. The relative reducibility of various concentrates obtained by tabling, spiraling, flotation, etc. indicated that the different concentrates were al highly reducible possessing identical reducibility characteristics, irrespective of the amount of silica gangue present and took 28-31 minutes for 90 percent reduction. The reduction rate of the concentrates were found to be faster by 1 ½ times as that of the lumpy washed Bolani ore presently used for the production of pig iron by Hindustan Steel Limited at Durgapur Steel Plant. However, the concentrates need to be suitability agglomeration for the commercial production of pig iron by conventional methods.