Document Type : Original Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Mining and Metallurgy, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
2 Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
In this research firstly ore characterization studies from ore dressing point of view have been conducted and then increase in module ratio i.e. ratio of Al2O3 to SiO2 of the bauxite samples from Boolboolieh area of Kerman province investigated by the means of ore dressing techniques. Obtained results from ore characterization studies revealed diaspore and hematite were major mineral phases and Al2O3, Fe2O3 and SiO2 contents of head sample were 36.6, 27.02 and 20.32 % respectively and consequently module ratio was determined to be 1.8. Mineralogical studies on all prepared microscopic sections show clastic texture that contains pisolith and oolith particles inside microcrystalline matrix formed from hematite, clay minerals and fine bauxite particles. In ore dressing studies, physical separation methods, selective grinding, heavy media separation and tabling have been investigated. Obtained results from selective grinding revealed that alumina to silica ratio increases from 1.8 to 1.91 with alumina recovery about 69.3 %. Heavy Liquid separation tests proved that alumina to silica ratio increases to 3.32 with 64.02% alumina recovery by adjusting heavy liquid density to 3.22. Tabling tests approved increase in concentrate module ratio to 2.64 with reduction in alumina recovery to 21%.
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