Characterization and Reduction Roasting Studies of an Iron Rich Manganese Ore

Abstract

The article presents the reduction roasting followed by low intensity magnetic separation studies of a low grade Mn ore assaying 27.7% Mn and 26.1% Fe in order to obtain a Mn rich non-magnetic concentrate. The reflected light microscopic studies followed by the liberation studies of the as-received sample using quantitative mineralogical evaluation by scanning electron microscope suggested a poor liberation pattern of the constituent Mn and Fe minerals owing to a complex association of the different phases present. The reduction roasting studies carried out while varying different process parameters such as ore particle size, temperature, reductant content and residence time ended up with products containing 45–48% Mn with a Mn/Fe ratio of 5–6 at a yield of ~ 60% with the optimum level of conditions such as temperature: 800–850 °C, time: 90–120 min and charcoal: 10–12%. The scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy studies of the roasted product reported manganite as the major Mn bearing phase while magnetite was found to be the major iron bearing phase.