Beneficiation of a Laminated Iron ore from Rajharapahar, Madhya Pradesh, for Bhilai Steel Project

A laminated iron ore from Rajharapahar iron ore deposit, Madhya Pradesh, assaying 54.8% Fe, 11.16% SiO2, 4.46% Al2O3, 0.075% P the Indian Bureau of Mines for beneficiation tests at the instance of the Russian experts. Quartz was the predominant gangue with ferruginous clay (altered feldspar and lateritic material) and a little magnetite. Washing and cleaning of the fines, which contained a large proportion of the alumina and silica, in the ore , yielded a concentrate assaying 60.3% Fe with a recovery of 84.1 % iron. Tabling the slime obtained by washing produced a table concentrate assaying over 60% Fe and this , when mixed with the above combined concentrate, improved the recovery to 90.1% Fe for about the same grade. Flotation of the slime after classification gave even a slightly higher recovery (91%0 for nearly the same grade of concentrate. Four possible schemes for the treatment of this ore are outlined, out of which washing followed by flotation of the fines appears to be the best, particularly in view of the large capacity of the plant to be installed.