Beneficiation of low grade Ferruginous Manganese ore from Sandur, Mysore

Beneficiation of a low grade ferruginous manganese ore from Sandur, Mysore, analysing and 30.18% Mn, 21.9% Fe, 0.99% SiO2, 12.40% Al2O3, and 0.03% P was studied . The manganese minerals in the ore were psilomelane and pyrolusite and the chief gangue was ferruginous ochre. Straight magnetic separation did not yield a satisfactory grade of concentrate. Reduction roast of the washed ore at -3 mesh size followed by wet magnetic separation at -28 mesh gave manganese concentrate assaying 54.4% Mn, 8.5% Fe and 0.02% P with a manganese recovery of 42.5% . Magnetic separation at -200 mesh improved the recovery to 54.9% in a concentrate assaying were comparatively low due to very intimate association of the manganese and iron minerals. The concentrates could be used for the production of low-phosphorous ferromanganese.