A preliminary study on enrichment of Anini iron ore for use by Algerian metallurgical industry

Abstract

The Anini iron ore contains mainly ferriferous hematite rocks with inclusions of quartz and clay. The chemical analysis showed that the average content of iron is 55% while SiO2 and Al2O3 is 26.20% and 12%, respectively. The XRD mineralogical analysis confirmed that the prevailing mineral phase are hematite, quartz, clay and some inclusions of calcite in this matrix. According to the tests, preliminary desliming by washing provides iron 62% is the concentrate while SiO2 decreases from 26.20% to 2.30% and Al2O3from 12% to 3%. The calculated partial basicity index Ip= (CaO/SiO2) was 1.07, meaning that the washed-out ore achieves standards to be used in metallurgy. The by-products remaining after washing (quartz, clay and a small content of iron) can be used in cement production.

Keywords

• enrichment
• iron ore
• desliming
• basicity index
• metallurgy