Characterization of the sludge generated during the processing of iron ore in Omarska mine

In present paper there were characterized sludge samples generated as an overflow during the processing of iron ore from Omarska mine (Bosnia and Herzegovina). With the aim to improve the utilization of minerals, we are carrying out research into the possibility of selective flocculation of limonite from the sludge. The first and very important step in this research is the characterization of sludge. In order to determine the present mineral phases and their chemical compositions, it was performed XRPD, FTIR and SEM-EDS analysis. The XRPD results showed that sludge samples are composed of major goethite and quartz, less clay minerals, and minor magnetite and todorokite. The FTIR and SEM-EDS analysis are in very good agreement and confirms the results obtained by XRPD method