Building a Geometallurgical Model in Iron Ores using a Mineralogical Approach with Liberation Data (original) (raw)

GEOMETALLURGICAL APPROACH FOR QUALITY CONTROL OF IRON ORES FOR AGGLOMERATION AND REDUCTION PROCESSES

The usual characterization of the intrinsic quality of iron ore fines and lumps in the metallurgical industries has been based only on chemical analysis and granulometry. A lot of typological categories of iron ores and different ore blends can be used in the industrial processes of agglomeration and reduction. The ore quality variability is continuously changing. Besides, little consideration is being today to microstructural, mineralogical and " granulochemical " characteristics. These aspects, as well as the technological tests in bench and pilot scale, are also important. Regarding geometallurgical input for agglomeration and reduction processes there is in general a lack of understanding between mining companies and metallurgical industries. Then, in the last years geometallurgical approach is gaining interest at the universities, research centers and these industries. Geometallurgy is a holistic, multidisciplinary and powerful approach to decrease variability of industrial results, to implement technological solutions and improvements, to promote innovation and add value in use in all operational phases of the steel production, from the primary ore until the end product focusing on mine, mineral processing and metallurgy. In this contribution, a geometallurgical approach for quality control of iron ores for sintering, pelletizing and reduction processes is highlighted.