Beneficiation Studies on an Argillaceous Limestone Sample from Dungri Limestone Quarry of Orissa Mining Corporation Ltd

Abstract

A low-grade argillaceous limestone sample from Dungri Limestone Quarry, Sambalpur District, Orissa was received through Orissa Mining Corporation Ltd., for beneficiation studies So as to make it suitable for cement manufacture. The sample as received assayed 33.7% CaO, 0.62% MgO, 25.7% SiO22, 5.63% AlO3 and 34, 3% total insolubles. Quartz constituted the chief gangue and liberation of limestone was incomplete even at400 mesh size . Flotation of a 87.0 % -200 mesh ground feed employing 1.5Kg/ton of liberation of limestone and 1.0 Kg/ton of oleic acid emulsion followed by one cleaning of the rougher float yielded a limestone concentrate assaying 45.3%CaO,11,9% SiO2ad 14.44% insoluble with a recovery of 80.2%CaO. The cement manufacturer. Three cleanings of the rougher float improved the grade of limestone concentrate to 49.03%CaO, 7.07% SiO2, and 8.70%insolubles with a CaO recovery in the Product of 73.7%.