Characterization on the Behaviors of Ca and Si Constituents During the Consolidation of Ferruginous Manganese Ores

Abstract

Consolidation of the ferruginous manganese ore fines is of vital importance for manganese extraction in the smelting process. The main impurities in the Fe–Mn ores are Ca and Si constituents and they have a significant effect on the consolidation of iron and manganese oxides. In this study, characterization on the behaviors of Ca and Si constituents during the roasting process of Fe–Mn ores were investigated by thermodynamic, fusion temperatures, and phase identification analyses. The results showed that the Ca and Si constituents can decrease the fusion temperature of the MnO2–Fe2O3 binary system dramatically due to the formation of low-melting complicate silicates from the CaO, SiO2, and partial manganese and iron oxides. The high-melting solid manganese ferrites phase generated from the remaining manganese and iron oxides were bonded and solidified by the liquid phase. This provided favorable mineralization conditions for the consolidation of Fe–Mn ore.