PROCESS DEVELOPMENT FOR BENEFICIATION OF IRON ORE SLIMES FROM DONIMALAI AREA

The Iron ore processing plants have been invariably generating slimes in the range of 10 – 15 % of the ROM treated. These losses are in the tune of over 15 million tons of iron values every year. The tailing ponds of most of the iron ore mines are getting accumulated with these slimes and are at the verge of getting filled. In order to utilize the iron values lost in the tailings and to create space for fresh tailings, these tailings are to be beneficiated. The present study deliberates an attempt to utilize the iron ore tailings from Donimalai area. The slimes available are typically in the range of 50 – 60 % Fe with varying Silica and Alumina content. The sample subjected to study was processed by desliming followed by wet high intensity magnetic separation in two stages. From the studies, it is possible to produce a combined concentrate assaying 64.36 % Fe, 2.23 % Al2O3 and 2.89 % SiO2 with a recovery of 78.74 % iron units