Recovery of Iron Ore From The Tailings of Tang Zagh Iron Beneficiation Plant: A Comparative Study of Gravity and Magnetic Separation Methods

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 School of Mining University college of Engineerin University of Tehran

2 Islamic Azad University, Mahalat branch

10.22077/jgm.2024.7407.1025

Abstract

Based on the importance of recovering iron ore tailings due to the decreasing high-grade deposits and the challenge of managing mining waste, this study focused on the recovery of hematite from the fine particles of the tailings dam sample prepared from the Tang Zagh processing plant. Analysis and characterization of the sample revealed that 52% of the sample's weight is in the -38 micron size fraction, and roughly 55% of the iron is distributed within this size fraction. The main minerals in the sample include hematite, quartz, goethite, and occasionally magnetite. Additionally, the sample contains 46% total iron and 0.67% FeO. To achieve the degree of liberation for various tests, the sample size was reduced to -38 microns. Furthermore, three different approaches (gravity, magnetic, and a combination of gravity and magnetic) were employed for ore concentration. Through the Multi-Gravity Separator (MGS) at three stages, with angles of 2, 4, and 6 degrees, a concentrate with a 57.92% grade and 38.9% iron recovery was produced. Utilizing the High Gradient Magnetic Separation (HGMS) method across three stages, magnetic field intensities of 7000, 10000, and 13000 Gauss, using the Box Mag device, yielded a concentrate with a 61.92% grade and 12.76% iron recovery. Considering the market potential for the concentrate with approximately 58% Fe grade, the best approach for ore enrichment is the Multi-Gravity Separator (MGS), which surpasses the magnetic method in terms of higher recovery and economic feasibility. Moreover, the results indicate that a combination of the Multi-Gravity Separator and magnetic tests can be employed to increase iron grade and recovery. Using this approach, a concentrate with a grade of 62.32% Fe and 17.87% recovery was achieved.

Keywords

Journal of Geomine
Volume 1, Issue 3
September 2023
Pages 137-143

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