Short overview about iron ore beneficiation: a case study in recovering the iron ore from the tailing pond of the Kip-Tuoc processing plant
- Authors: Hai Thanh Pham 1*, Dung Kim Thi Nhu 1, Luan Van Pham 1, Nhung Thi Pham 1, Toi Trung Tran 1, Chinh Thi Vu 1, Thinh Duc Tran 2
Affiliations:
1 Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, Hanoi, Vietnam
2 Vinacomin - Minerals Holding Corporation, Hanoi, Vietnam
- *Corresponding:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Keywords: Flotation, Gravity separation, Iron grade content, Iron ore, Kip Tuoc tailing ore, Magnetic separation.
- Received: 25th-Oct-2023
- Revised: 26th-Feb-2024
- Accepted: 23rd-July-2024
- Online: 1st-Aug-2024
- Section: Mining Engineering
Abstract:
Iron is a critical metal for many fields of life and industry. The iron-containing minerals are recovered from the iron run-of-mine (ROM) ore and the tailing pond (TP) of the previous processes. The minerals containing iron are hematite, magnetite, goethite, maghemite, etc. In addition, the invaluable minerals and gangue normally are quartz, kaolinite, gibbsite, pyrite, dolomite, chlorite, etc. Many methods to upgrade the iron content as well as separating the iron minerals and gangue are applied. Those technologies are magnetic separation, gravity separation, flotation, chemical separation, thermal beneficiation, or even the application of biotechnology. In Vietnam, there are many technological research projects on iron ore beneficiation and processing. The main technologies are washing and scrubbing methods, magnetizing roasting combined with a magnetic separator, spiral and magnetic separator, flotation, etc. The article shows a short review of the main methods in order to treat the type of raw material as well as some current applied technology in Vietnam. Based on the knowledge, a study to recover the iron of Kip-Tuoc tailing from the tailing pond is presented. The applied technology is the combination of a trommel screen, spiral and shaking table. The result showed that by applying the rational method and carefully controlling the operational parameters, the iron ore (from the tailing pond with 14.28% Fe) recovered up to 57.57% at the 59.49% Fe grade content. The iron content is suitable for feeding to the blast furnaces in Vietnam. Through the research results, a flowsheet for iron recovery at the tailing pond of the Kip Tuoc beneficiation plant is proposed and scaled up to industrial production's next step.
Cline, W. A., and Rosas, C. (1975). How Marcona floats iron sulphides from magnetite pellet feed concentrate. World Mining, 28(3), 5.
Clout, J. (2013). Beneficiation of fine iron ores using the desand process. Proceedings Iron Ore 2013. The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 10. Melbourne.
Colombo, A. F. (1986). Concentration of Iron Oxides by Selective Flocculation--Flotation. Advances in Mineral Processing: A Half-Century of Progress in Application of Theory to Practice 18.
Filippov, L. O., Severov, V., and Filippova, I. (2014). An overview of the beneficiation of iron ores via reverse cationic flotation. Int. J. Miner. Process. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.minpro.2014.01.002., 127(7).
Graham, J. (1973). Phosphorus in iron ore from the Hamersley iron formations. . Proceedings of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 246, 2. Melbourne.
Houot, R. (1983). Beneficiation of iron ore by flotationa review of industrial and potential applications. Int. J. Miner. Process,, 10(3), 21.
IMSAT. (2009). Basic design: "Investment and construction project to expand the capacity of Kip Tuoc - Lao Cai iron mine to 100,000 tons of fine ore/year. Hanoi: IMSAT. Technical report. (in Vietnamese)
Iwasaki, I. (1983). Iron ore flotation theory and practice. . Min. Eng., 35(6), 10.
Iwasaki, I. (1999). Iron ore flotationhistorical perspective and future prospect. . In: Parekh, B.K., Miller, J.D. (Eds.). Advances in Flotation Technology. . SME, Littleton, CO, 12.
Lu, L. (2022). Iron Ore - Mineralogy, Processing and Environmental Sustainability. (C. Gifford Ed. second ed.): Matthew Deans.
Ma, M. (2012). Froth flotation of iron ores. Int. J. Mining Eng. Min. Process. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.5923/j.mining.20120102.06., 1(5).
Ma, M., Marques, M., and Gontinjo, C. (2011). Comparative studies of reverse cationic/anionic flotation of Vale iron ore. Int. J. Miner. Process. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.minpro.2011.07.001, 100(4).
Miller, D. (2013). Iron ore beneficiation in Australia, . Metallurgical Plant Design and Operating Strategies. The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 583. Melbourne.
Morgan, J. W., and Anders, E. (1980). Chemical composition of earth, venus, and mercury. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 77(12), 6973-6977.
Morris, R. C. (1985). Genesis of iron ore in banded iron-formation by supergene and supergene- metamorphic processesa conceptual model. In: Wolf, K.H. (Ed.). Handbook of Strata- Bound and Stratiform Ore Deposits, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 13(162).
Morris, R. C. (1987). Iron ores derived by the enrichment of banded iron-formation. In: Hein, J.R. (Ed.). Siliceous Sedimentary Rock-Hosted Ores and Petroleum. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, NY, 36.
Morris, R. C. (2002). Iron ore genesis and post-ore metasomatism at Mount Tom Price. Proceed- ings of Iron Ore 2002 Conference, Perth, Western Australia, AusIMM, 10.
Nakhaei, F., and Irannajad, M. (2018). Reagent types in flotation of iron oxide minerals: a review. Miner. Process. Extr. Metall. Rev.,. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/08827508.2017.1391245, 39(2), 35.
Nguyen, C. N. (2016). Results of research on iron ore beneficiation technology at Na To iron mine, Xieng Khouang province, Laos. Hanoi: VAMPRO. Technical report. (in Vietnamese)
Nguyen, Đ. Q., Đong, Q. H., Kieu, C. T., and Pham, H. G. (2009). Research beneficiation of some poor iron ore samples in Ha Giang. Hanoi: VAMPRO. Technical report. (in Vietnamese)
Nguyen, T. H. (2007a). Research on the selection of iron ore beneficiation technology at Ha Tinh small mines. Hanoi: Vimluki. Technical report. (in Vietnamese)
Nguyen, T. H. (2007b). Research on improving the grade content of iron ore by flotation method. Mining Industry Journal, 4.
Nummela, W., and Iwasaki, I. (1986). Iron ore flotation. In: Somasundaran, P. (Ed.), Advances in Mineral Processing: A Half Century of Progress in Application of Theory to Practice. SME, Littleton, CO, 34.
Pham, Đ. P. (2014). Research on deluvi iron ore beneficiation from Quy Xa mine - Lao Cai. Hanoi: Vimluki. Technical report. (in Vietnamese)
Pham, H., Nguyen, Đ. T., Tran, T. P., and Kieu, C. T. (2017). Research on processing tailings ore from technological samples taken from Ban Luoc iron mine, Cao Bang province by magnetic roasting - magnetic processing method. Vietnam Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering, 12(1). (in Vietnamese)
Pham, T. H., Pham, T. N., Nhu T. K. D., Tran T. T., Tran Đ. T. (2023). Research of material composition and proposed method for recovery iron concentrate from the tailings of Kip Tuoc iron ore processing factory, Lao Cai. Mining Industry Journal, 2, 31 - 36. (in Vietnamese)
Powmceby, M., Hapugoda, S., Manuel, J., Webster, N., and MacRae, C. (2019). Characterisation of phosphorus and other impurities in goethite-rich iron ores – Possible P incorporation mechanisms. . Minerals Engineering. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2019.106022, 143(106022).
Pradip, Ravishankar, S. A., Sankar, T. A., and Khosla, N. K. (1993). Beneficiation studies on alumina-rich Indian iron ore slimes using selective dispersants, flocculants and flotation collectors. Proceedings XVIII International Mineral Processing Congress. Austral-asian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 5 . Melbourne.
Pretorius, J., and Hoffmann, G. (2006). Utilisation of low-grade iron ore resources to produce new products and the development of the Sishen Expansion Project (“SEP”), Sishen Iron Ore Mine, South Africa, DMS and Gravity Concentration Operations and Technology in South Africa. Johannesburg, 23: The South African Istitute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Quast, K. (2017). Literature review on the use of natural products in the flotation of iron oxide ores. Miner. Eng.; doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2017.01.008., 108(12).
Rath, S. S., and Sahoo, H. (2020). A review on the application of starch as depressant in iron ore flotation. Miner. Process. Extr. Metall. Rev.. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/08827508.2020.1843028, 13.
Selvapandian, E., and Barr, R. (2013). Managing challenges faced in the brownfield commissioning of an ultrafine hematite processing circuit at Arrium’s Iron Duke Ore Beneficiation Plant. Proceedings Iron Ore 2013. The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Melbourne, 5.
Sherrell, I., and Nevens, M. (2010). Iron ore mineral processing overview. XXV International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC). Proceedings. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Melbourne, 7.
Stanton, C., and Bannear, M. (2013). Arrium’s Iron Baron Hematite Beneficiation Plant a success from start to finish. . Proceedings Iron Ore 2013. The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 5. Melbourne, 5.
Su, F., Hanumantha Rao, K., Forssberg, K. S., and Samskog, P. O. (1998). Dephosphorization of magnetite finespart 2: influence of chemical variables on flotation kinetics. Trans. Inst. Min. Metall. C: Miner. Process. Extr. Metall, 107(7).
Tran, T. H. (2013). Research on technology for beneficiation of laterite iron ore in the Central Highlands. Hanoi: Vimluki. Technical report. (in Vietnamese)
Uwadiale, G. G. (1992). Flotation of iron oxides and quartza review. . Miner. Process. Extr.Metall. Rev., 11(3), 32. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08827509208914209.
Vieira, A. M., and Peres, A. E. (2007). The effect of amine type, pH, and size range in the flotation of quartz. 5.
VIMICO. (2022). Acceptance data of VIMICO's annual mine work volume. Hanoi: VIMICO. Technical report. (in Vietnamese)
Vu, V. H. (2002). Research on technology for beneficiation of limonite ore from Tien Bo Thai Nguyen mine to meet metallurgical raw material requirements. Hanoi: Vimluki. Technical report. (in Vietnamese)
Waychunas, G. A. (1991). Crystal chemistry of oxides and oxyhydroxides. In: Lindsley, D.H.(Ed.). Oxide Minerals: Petrologic and Magnetic Significance. Ribbe, P.H. (Ed.), Reviews in Mineralogy(Chapter 2). Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, 25(5).
Xiong, D. H. (1998). New technology of pulsating high gradient magnetic separation. . Int. J. Miner. Process, 54(16).
Xiong, D. H. (2006). SLon magnetic separator promoting Chinese oxidized iron ore processing industry. Proceedings of XXIII IMPC. Istanbul, 5.
Xiong, D. H. (2008). SLon magnetic separators applied to beneficiate low grade oxidized iron ores. Proceedings of XXIV IMPC. Beijing, 5.
Xiong, D. H. (2010). A new technology of applying SLon-2500 magnetic separator to recover iron concentrate from abandoned tails. . Proceedings of XXV IMPC., 9. Brisbane, 9.
Xiong, D. H. (2012). The creative technologies of SLon magnetic separators in beneficiating weakly magnetic minerals. Proceedings of XXVI IMPC. New Delhi, 16.
Yang, D. C. (1988). Reagents in iron ore processing. In: Somasundaran, P., Moudgil, B.M. (Eds.), Reagents in Mineral Technology.. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, Basel,, 579.
Zhang, X., Gu, X., Han, Y., Parra-Álvarez, N., Claremboux, V., and Kawatra, S. K. (2021). Flotation of iron ores: a review. Miner. Process. Extr. Metall. Rev., doi:https://doi.org/10. 1080/08827508.2019.1689494, 42(3), 28.
Other articles