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On the Mechanisms of Silica (SiO2) Recovery in Magnetite Ore Low-Magnetic-Drum Concentration

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Abstract

Magnetite (Fe3O4) ore is concentrated by low-magnetic-field drums to recover a magnetite concentrate that is low in silica (SiO2). The presence of SiO2 in the magnetite concentrate for steel production increases the steel processing costs, so a major challenge in magnetic concentration is to lower the SiO2 grade in the Fe concentrate. This work presents studies that were carried out on the removal of SiO2 from the magnetite concentration at the plant scale. Studies were performed with a three 36 × 96″ drum unit processing 46 ton/h of rougher magnetite concentrate. These studies showed that silica appears in the magnetite concentrate by three mechanisms, namely SiO2 entrainment in Fe3O4 chains, heterocoagulation between Fe3O4 and SiO2 particles, and mineral locking of SiO2 to Fe3O4. The SiO2 entrainment mechanism had the highest contribution (75%) to the SiO2 recovered in the Fe concentrate. Electrokinetic studies on Fe3O4 and SiO2 showed that heterocoagulation occurs because of the low negative zeta potential of the minerals at the pH of the plant slurry. This study also showed that a high percentage of ultrafine size SiO2 particles trapped in Fe3O4 agglomerates was not removed by the dilution water for the slurry fed to the drum. To lower the SiO2 recovery in the drum magnetic concentration process, work should be directed towards the removal of trapped SiO2 in Fe3O4 agglomerates.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the National Council for Science and Technology, México (CONACyT) for the Ph. D. Fellowship 170585 in Minerals Engineering to Mario Llamas-Bueno and the Ph. D. Fellowships 230133 in Materials Science and Engineering to Mario A. Corona-Arroyo, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi (UASLP), México.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ternium México, Universidad 992, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, 66450, México

    M. Llamas-Bueno

  2. Surface Chemistry Lab, Instituto de Metalurgia, Universidad Autónoma de San Luís Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona 550, San Luis Potosí, SLP, 78210, México

    A. López-Valdivieso

  3. División de Ingenierías, Departamento de Minas, Metalurgia y Geología, Universidad de Guanajuato, Ex-Hacienda de San Matías S/N, Guanajuato, GTO, 36020, México

    M. A. Corona-Arroyo

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  1. M. Llamas-Bueno
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  2. A. López-Valdivieso
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  3. M. A. Corona-Arroyo
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Correspondence to A. López-Valdivieso.

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Llamas-Bueno, M., López-Valdivieso, A. & Corona-Arroyo, M.A. On the Mechanisms of Silica (SiO2) Recovery in Magnetite Ore Low-Magnetic-Drum Concentration. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 36, 131–138 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-018-0019-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-018-0019-5

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