Beneficiation of Iranian magnesite ores by reverse flotation process and its effects on shaped and unshaped refractories properties

Abstract

The primary aim of this study is the beneficiation of magnesite ores from eastern part of Iran by reverse flotation process. For this purpose, the mineralogical and microstructural characteristics of the as-received and the processed ores from Iranian Afzal Abad mine were established. The liberation degree of ore was estimated at about 75 µm. Then the as-received ore and the processed one were dead burnt to produce magnesia aggregates. These aggregates were used for production of shaped and unshaped refractories. Bricks and monolithic ramming mixes which were made from these aggregates were analysed and their mechanical and physical properties, studied. The results of this investigation showed that the application of reverse flotation process on the magnesite ore of eastern part of Iran causes an acceptable reduction on the amount of its siliceous inclusions, so that this type of the processed magnesia is suitable for utilization in the refractory industries. The magnesia produced from the original calcined ore was not suitable for this industry due to the presence of unacceptable amount of siliceous inclusions, which make its properties very poor.