Application of EDS Based Automated Mineralogic System to Investigate Process Efficiency of a Processing Plant of Iron Ore Mine from Chhattisgarh, Central India

Iron ore slimes from the processing plant of Kirandul were characterized by optical microscopic techniques and Automated mineralogical techniques to understand the distribution of iron-bearing phases and their recoverability. The study indicates that the dominant mineral phase is Limonite with minor Gibbsite, porous goethite, low iron limonite, and Goethite. Quartz, Magnetite, and porous Hematite are present in trace proportions. The iron content in the sample is 44.76% of the sample and is distributed in Limonite (55%), Porous Goethite (10.15%), and Goethite (5%). The variety of magnetite and hematite only contribute 0.37% Fe or 0.17% of the total Fe in this sample is found in hematite and magnetite. Limonite is the dominant phase in the tailings sample with 83% of the limonite occurring in liberated form. Magnetite-rich particles are in the liberated state. Monomineralic Limonite is constituted by Limonite particles that are > 95% Limonite, which account for 35% of the sample and almost 97% of all the Limonite in the sample. Around 37% of all Fe in this sample is found in the monomineralic limonite particle type. Around 80% of the P in the sample (0.02%) is found in Limonite. Around 25.82% Si is found in the sample and this is distributed dominantly between quartz (34%), Limonite (23%), and low Fe Limonite (18%). Al concentration is 2.67% of the sample and is dominantly found in Gibbsite (35%), Limonite (36%), and low Fe Limonite (11%). The study indicates that the process is functioning well with a low amount of valuable hematite or magnetite present. Any occurrence of magnetite, hematite, porous magnetite, or porous hematite is typically found in a middling or locked occurrence at ultra-fine size.