Beneficiation of low grade manganese ore fines

The availability of ferro-manganese grade ore is limited in India while the requirement of this grade of ore is expected to increase manifold, considering the projected steel production of about 30 million tons by 2000 A.D. To meet the growing demand of manganese ore, to improve the metallurgical and economic performance of the operating mines and also to extend the life of limited manganese ore reserves in the country, it is imperative to install suitable beneficiation and agglomeration facilities. A recent innovation in the field of heavy media separat-ion of mineral fines is the Dyne Whirlpool process. The paper examines the feasibility of adopting the process for the beneficiation of low grade manganese ore fines based on the experience of this process in Brazil and the amena-bility of Indian ores to this process, as established by pilot plant tests conducted in foreign laboratories. It also reviews the performance of a manganese ore sintering plant designed, fabricated and installed by an Indian agency at Chandrapura, Maharashtra