Semi Pilot Plant studies on the beneficiation of a ferruginous manganese ore from Joda West Mines of Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited and Proposal for a Plant of capacity 600 tons/day employing the low temperature Magnetising reduction process

Abstract

An ingenuous process based on low temperature magnetising gaseous reduction has grade manganese concentrates from ferruginous low grade manganese ores. This process excludes external heat for the reduction process and yields a friable product which can be very easily crushed and ground for the subsequent magnetic separation. A concentrate of grade about 52% Mn with a Mn:Fe ratio of 7:1 is obtained from a low grade ore from the Mines of Tata Iron and Steel Co. Ltd., in Keonjhar District, Orissa, assaying 27.2% Mn, 24.2% Fe, 7.53% SiO2, 7.43% Al2O3, and 0.09% P., with a manganese recovery of 62.0%. Three tons of low grade ore are required to produce a ton of manganese concentrate suitable for making standard grad ferromanganese. The cost of this concentrates is estimated at about Rs. 85/- per ton inclusive of cost of mining, upgrading treatment, briquetting and depreciation on the basis of an estimated capital outlay of Rs. 90 lakhs required for a plant to upgrade 600 tons of low grade ore per day. A plant of this size can produce enough concentrates to feed a plant with a produced capacity of 36,000 tons of standard grade ferromanganese per year. Proposals are put forward for a plant to beneficiate 600 tons/day of the above ferruginous ore and suggested machinery required for the purpose and capital cost for same.