Study of a possibility of enrichment of fine-crushed magnetite ore by dry magnetic separation

Abstract

Dry magnetic separation (DMS) enables to separate the non-magnetic fraction of iron ores at the initial stage of their concentration and therefore to decrease cost of their further processing. However, a considerable amount of metal is lost in DMS tails at that. The efficiency of DMS considerably depends on difference between the upper and lower limits of the ore coarseness) ore coarseness range), delivered for concentration. At the Magnitogorsk steel-works crushing and concentration plant No. 5 this range is from 50 mm up to 15 mm. To determine the optimal ore size, delivered to DMS, studies accomplished to determine the specific magnetic susceptibility of the magnetite and the burden for the magnetite ore of Maly Kuibas deposit. After the study of different size iron ore separation, a reasonability of the DMS feed size decreasing down to 30–7 mm shown. A possibility to obtain additional product of 7–0 mm size determined, suitable for sintering. It will enable to decrease the amount of material, delivered for crushing and wet magnetic separation, as well as to decrease expenses for transporting and storage of wet separation tails. Peculiarities of fine magnetite ore processing by DMS in a suspended state considered, optimal parameters of the separator determined and its high efficiency for magnetite ore of 7–0 mm size concentration shown.