Development of innovation routes for iron ore using high intensity magnetic separators

Abstract

Abstract The mineral processing of low-grade iron ores commonly generates large volumes of slime, which are disposed as tailings. Modern mining requires strives to eliminate the use of tailings dams in a maximum effort to increase metallurgical recovery, the security and reduction of the operational cost. This research aims for the recovery of iron contained in the slime, which consists of a material with 38% Fe and <40 µm, originating from the desliming cyclones. Pilot tests were performed on the Wet High-Intensity Magnetic Separator (WHIMS) and on the Vertical Ring Pulsating High Gradient Magnetic Separator (VPHGMS) considering different configurations in terms of operating parameters and routes. The best results were obtained for VPHGMS with an iron content in the concentrate of 67.06% and mass and metallurgical recovery of 32.42% and 56.86%, respectively. In the best condition tested, around 540 thousand tons of concentrate can be incorporated into production and has great environmental relevance.

Keywords

• iron ore
• slime ultrafines
• high-intensity magnetic separator
• dispersion
• processing routes