Comparative study on concentration properties of iron deposits (Mongolia)

Abstract

Research aims to compare magnetic flotation results of iron deposits of Mongolia in order to obtain iron concentrate with low sulfur content that meets the standard of raw materials for metallurgical production. Research methodology. Representative samples were taken from Tumurtei deposit in Khuder soum (Selenge province), Tumur Tolgoi deposit (Darkhan-Uul province) and Chandmani Uul deposit (Dornogobi province). Iron grade in the primary ore from Tumurtei deposit was 42.03%, in Tumurtolgoi ore – 46.57% and in Chandmani-Uul ore–43.59%. The ore was crushed into 1 mm size through java crusher and gyratory crusher for the first stage. Dry magnetic concentration was conducted on the ore samples using Boxmag Rapid LR-1.4 Induced Magnetic Separator (the UK). The test work was conducted under the condition when the distance between gyrator of separator and rotation speed are constant and by this time magnetic strength was changed. At the next stage the concentrate of dry magnetic concentration was processed by wet magnetic separation. In order to reduce the sulfur content in the ore from Tumur tolgoi and Tumurtei deposits, flotation experiments were also conducted using UK Denver flotation machine. Ore and concentrator grade were determined using traditional titer method and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), the mineral contents was analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), elements in product of wet magnetic separator and final concentrate were analyzed using SEM-EDX, the thermal-gravy meter analysis was conducted using instrument TG/DTA7300. Results. Wet magnetic concentration of dry magnetic separation concentrates of all the studied ore allow obtaining concentrates with the high content of iron – from 64% to 66%. Flotation of the concentrate of wet magnetic concentration made it possible to reach iron content in Tumurtei and Tumurtolgoi deposits of 69.02% and 62.86% correspondingly and reduce Sulphur content to 0.2%, 0.48% correspondingly. This study covers the field of flotation technology to extract products with lower sulfur content which meet standard of modern metallurgical industry.