Ilmenite Concentrate Research Articles

The Dependence of Ilmenite’s Dissolution Rate in Hydrochloric Acid on the Fe(III)/Fe(II) Ratio, with Fe K-Edge XANES Pre-Edge Peak Analysis

The complete dissolution of the Ti and Fe content of ilmenite is a necessary first step for the production of TiO2 directly from ilmenite. Hydrochloric acid is one of the possible solubilizing agents. However, the ability to dissolve ilmenite in hydrochloric acid depends on the nature of the source material. Here, we consider the effect that the oxidation state of Fe in the ilmenite has on the dissolution rate. Three placer ilmenite fractions from New Zealand and India were dissolved in concentrated hydrochloric acid in a stirred vessel. The dissolution rate constants for Fe and Ti for each fraction based on a shrinking sphere model were compared with the Fe(III)/Fe(II) ratio. Pre-edge Fe K-edge XANES as a measure of Fe(III)/Fe(II) has been shown to extend to ilmenite, which has a complex pre-edge region due to the involvement of Ti electronic levels. It was found that there is a relationship between the oxidation state of Fe and the dissolution rate, with a higher Fe(II) content resulting in more rapid dissolution. A higher Fe(II) content reflects a younger, less weathered material, closer to the “standard” stoichiometry of ilmenite. These data and the presented correlation may support the design of industrial processes to digest ilmenite in hydrochloric acid from varying feedstocks.

Carbon-Enhanced Reduction and Nitridation of Ilmenite Concentrate with Ammonia Gas

Carbon-Enhanced Reduction and Nitridation of Ilmenite Concentrate with Ammonia Gas

Effect of Na2S Addition on Vacuum Carbon-Thermal Reduction of Panzhihua Ilmenite Concentrate

Effect of Na2S Addition on Vacuum Carbon-Thermal Reduction of Panzhihua Ilmenite Concentrate

Thermodynamic Justification for the Effectiveness of the Oxidation—Soda Conversion of Ilmenite Concentrates

This article presents the results of a thermodynamic analysis of the oxidation soda conversion reactions of minerals in ilmenite concentrates in the temperature range of 373–2273 K. The thermodynamic parameters of pseudorutile, pseudobrukite, and the new minerals, zhikinite and spessartine, were calculated for the first time. It has been established that the most important criterion relating to the stability of titanium minerals and related elements, as well as the reaction properties of the structural oxides of metals and silicon, is their degree of oxidation. Oxides of silicon (IV) and manganese have the best reactivity in solid-phase oxidizing alkaline environments (VI). Modeling this process scientifically substantiates the mechanism involved in the destruction of minerals in ilmenite concentrates in the low-temperature region in the presence of atmospheric oxygen and sodium oxide of soda ash, which are decomposed through the absorption of heat and the evaporation of moisture during the dehydration of hydrated minerals of iron and manganese and the dehydration of the soda–ilmenite batch. Tests conducted during pilot metallurgical production at the Institute of Metallurgy and Enrichment (PMP of JSC) confirmed the feasibility of processing high-chromium and siliceous rutile leucoxene ilmenite concentrates, which are unsuitable for traditional pyro- and hydro-metallurgical enrichment methods, through single-stage oxidation soda roasting, followed by the leaching of easily soluble sodium salts of iron and associated impurities with water and a dilute hydrochloric acid solution. The proposed energy-saving method ensures the production of high-purity (>98%) synthetic rutile while eliminating the formation of strong deposits on the lining of roasting units.

Fuel reactor simulation for coal chemical looping process: Effects of ash on flow behavior

Chemical looping gasification (CLG) is an environmentally friendly strategy for using coal that has significant promise for application in reality. Nevertheless, the process of generating and accumulating ash from coal presents obstacles to the advancement of this technology. To fully comprehend the effects of ash from coal on the internal flow properties of a fuel reactor (FR). The Computational Particle Fluid Dynamics (CPFD) approach was applied to predict the CLG with coal at the FR, uncovering distinctive flow properties of gas-solid reactions. This study investigated the effects of ash particles content, polydispersity and sphericity on the flow behavior within the bed. The simulation accurately predicted the motion of the bubbles within the FR, and the gas phase composition distribution at the outlet is closer to the experimental data. Introducing coal ash creates a reduction in the concentration of ilmenite, resulting in a drop in the rates of the related reactions. The narrow particles diameter distribution among coal ash facilitates the particles arrangement in the bed and improves the overall reaction. The addition of moderately irregular-shaped coal ash particles has a certain positive effect on improving the gas-solid contact.

Processing of Ilmenite Concentrate with High Chromium Content

The results of research on the processing of ilmenite concentrate from the Obukhovskoye deposit are presented in this article. As the concentrate has a high chromium content, the study involved converting the iron into metal and the titanium into slag through the addition of soda. Positive results were obtained during the smelting of the ilmenite concentrate, and a one-stage smelting mode was established. This mode involved an increase in the temperature up to 1700 °C, with a heating step of 10 °C/min and using an argon supply. The holding time at this temperature was 30 min, followed by cooling to 700 °C in argon. The optimal parameters for sintering the non-magnetic fraction with soda and leaching the sinter with water and hydrochloric acid solution were also determined.

Differences in bulk Fe content and density between type I and type II ordinary chondrite chondrules: Implications for parent body heterogeneities in oxidation state and O‐isotopic composition

AbstractType II chondrules have higher oxidation states than type I chondrules; in ordinary chondrites (OC), type II chondrules tend to be larger, richer in bulk Fe, and have higher densities than type I chondrules. Magnesian type IA chondrules tend to be richer in 16O than type II chondrules. Because the aerodynamic behavior of a particle is a function of the product of its size and density, type I and type II chondrules (or their precursors) were partly separated in the ordinary chondrite zone of the solar nebula prior to the accretion of OC parent asteroids. LL chondrites acquired a chondrule population with the highest type II/type I ratios, L chondrites acquired chondrules with an intermediate ratio, and H chondrites acquired chondrules with the lowest type II/type I ratios. This contributed to the observed differences among OC groups in oxidation state and O‐isotopic composition: in going from H to L to LL, mean oxidation state increases and mean Δ17O values increase. Higher oxidation is marked by increases in the FeO contents of olivine, low‐Ca pyroxene, chromite, and ilmenite; increases in the TiO2 content of chromite; and increases in the Co content of kamacite.

Enhancing PHGMS performance for recovery of ultra-fine ilmenite from tailings

In southwest China, the Panzhihua area annually produces about 80 million tons of tailings with a TiO<sub>2</sub> grade of around 5.0%, which causes serious waste of titanium resources as well as environmental and safety issues. The ilmenite contained in these tailings is ultra-fine in size, so it is difficult to recover under the regular operating conditions of pulsating high gradient magnetic separation (PHGMS). In this study, an SLon-100 PHGMS separator was applied to concentrate an ultra-fine titanium tailing under a wide range of operating conditions. The experimental results indicated that a combination of high pulsating frequency, large pulsating stroke, and low feed velocity was favorable for the highly efficient recovery of ultra-fine ilmenite from the tailings. The TiO<sub>2</sub> grade in the optimal concentrate was enhanced from 4.33% to 13.64%, at a recovery of 66.55% and an enrichment ratio of 3.15 through a one-stage PHGMS process. The size analysis of the optimal concentrate showed that the TiO<sub>2</sub> recovery in -25+18 µm and -18+10 µm fractions exceeded 70%. To further understand this PHGMS performance, the optimal ultra-fine ilmenite and larger-size ilmenite concentration conditions were compared. This study provides a valuable reference in the PHGMS operation for recovering ultra-fine weakly magnetic minerals, including ilmenite.

Mineral Recource Prospecting and Evaluation of Dry Stream Sediments of Wadi Umm Gheig – Umm Naggat Area, Eastern Desert, Egypt

The area of Wadi Umm Gheig-Umm Naggat is located at the central part of the Eastern desert, Egypt, 50km south to El-Quseir city at the Red Sea coast. The area is dominated by metavolcanics, Older Granites, Dokhan Volcanics, intrusive cumulate gabbro and Younger Granites. This works focuses on heavy minerals distributed in dry stream sediments of Wadi Umm Gheig and Gabal Umm Nagat. The study has followed up the traditional methods for sample collection from the stream sediments and the plane study for investigation and prospecting, as well as evaluation of heavy mineral deposits. The studied bed rocks are represented mainly by monzogranite, alkali feldspar granite, syenogranite and alkali granite. The investigated heavy minerals dominating the stream sediments are given by magnetite, ilmenite, rutile, leucoxene, zircon, fluorite and apatite which are arranged in decreasing order as percentages of abundances. Few trace minerals are detected in some samples like thorite and monazite, and xenotime as well. The evaluation of heavy minerals concentration reveals higher concentration of magnetite, ilmenite and zircon at the western sector, while fluorite show random distributions within the stream sediments area.

Reduction of an Ilmenite Concentrate by Using a Novel CO2/CH4 Thermal Plasma Torch

Plasma technology has emerged as a very helpful tool in a variety of sectors, notably metallurgy. Innovators and scientists are focused on the problem of finding a more ecologically friendly way of extracting titanium and iron metal from natural ilmenite concentrate for industrial applications. A direct current (DC) plasma torch operating at atmospheric pressure is used in this study to describe a decarbonization process for reducing an ilmenite concentrate. The plasma gases employed in this torch are CO2 and CH4. The molar ratio of the gases may be crucial for achieving a satisfactory reduction of the ilmenite concentrate. As a result, two molar ratios for CO2/CH4 have been chosen: 1:1 and 2:1. During torch operation, a thin layer of graphite is formed on the cathode to establish a protective barrier, prolonging the cathode’s life. The material was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The output gases were analyzed using mass spectrometry (MS). In addition, a thermodynamic analysis was performed to predict the development of thermodynamically stable phases. An economic assessment (including capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenditures (OPEX)) and a carbon balance were developed with the feasibility of the piloting in mind.

Apatite-rich zones in the Uppermost Upper Zone, Northern Limb, Bushveld Complex: Possible non-conventional source of REE and TiO2

The uppermost Upper Zone of the Bushveld Complex is known as a potential host of significant apatite-ilmenite resources. Recent exploration studies have delineated two apatite-rich zones representing a huge potential resource of phosphate. A detailed mineralogical and geochemical study of the two apatite-rich zones is undertaken to demonstrate that in addition to phosphate, apatite and ilmenite could be important saleable by-products for REE and Ti. In the Lower Apatite Zone (LAZ), the average concentrations of apatite, ilmenite, and titano-magnetite are 11%, 6%, and 18%, respectively. Grades of about 30 wt% combined apatite, ilmenite, and titano-magnetite can be recovered from the Upper Apatite Zone (UAZ), of which apatite and granular ilmenite constitute 9 and 10%, respectively. There is an association between diamagnetic (apatite), paramagnetic (mostly silicates and ilmenite), ferromagnetic (titano-magnetite) minerals and, to a lesser extent, sulphides. In addition, the majority of the targeted minerals; apatite, ilmenite, and titano-magnetite are relatively coarse, with a median value ranging between 270 μm and 931 μm. In-situ trace element data obtained on apatite demonstrate an increase in Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE) stratigraphically, grading from an average of 3180 ppm Total Rare Earth Elements (TREE+Y) in the LAZ to an average of 4068 ppm TREE+Y in the UAZ, indicating a sub-economic potential of REE that may be economically viable as by-product to phosphate. Preliminary resource estimations show that ~1,405,560 t and ~1,798,056 t of TREE can be exploited from the LAZ and UAZ, respectively. The discrete ilmenite grains are an attractive additional by-product considering their higher average >50% TiO2 and lower concentration of impurities such as <1.06% MgO, <1.21% MnO, <0.08% Al2O3, <0.02% V2O5 and <0.01% Cr2O3. These results suggest that apatite-rich layers in mafic layered intrusions are viable prospects for economic extraction of REE in conjunction with titanium as other by-products that can be recovered from phosphate rocks.

Research of geospatial variability of quality indicators of Zlobychi alluvial ilmenite deposit

The paper assesses the geospatial variability of quality indicators of the Zlobychi alluvial ilmenite deposit of the Irsha group of deposits. The variability of quality indicators was also studied. Based on the use of statistical methods, the dependencies between individual quality indicators were established. A close correlation between the ilmenite content and the thickness of the formation, the thickness of the sole and the thickness of the peat, and an average correlation between the thickness of the formation and the thickness of the sole were found. The main result of the research is the construction of complex placer models, which are used to clarify the structure and conditions of the deposit formation, and to identify conditioned and unproductive areas. The correlation between the distribution of ilmenite and the value of the thickness of the ventilation crust was established. The data for determining the optimal development directions are presented and the zones of mineralization are identified.

LIBS for prospecting and Raman spectroscopy for monitoring: two feasibility studies for supporting in-situ resource utilization

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy are still rather new techniques for in-situ exploration of extraterrestrial planetary surfaces but have shown their suitability and great potential in several successful robotic missions already. Next to serving primary scientific applications, both methods can also be used in the context of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) such as scouting for wanted substances and the surveillance of extraction processes. Here, we present two laboratory studies conducted in the context of ISRU with a focus on the chain from prospecting to extracting oxygen from lunar regolith. For LIBS, with optimized data processing and combined with state-of-the-art multivariate data analysis approaches, we show the potential of the technique for identifying samples with increased ilmenite content and for elemental quantification. The measurements were done using lunar regolith simulant and low pressures simulating vacuum on atmosphereless bodies such as the Moon. With Raman spectroscopy, we analyzed lunar regolith simulant samples that underwent electrochemical alteration for oxygen extraction and production of metal alloys demonstrating the potential of Raman spectroscopy for ISRU process monitoring. We also discuss the results in a broader context, evaluating the potential of both methods for other aspects of ISRU support.

Optimizing lunar regolith beneficiation for ilmenite enrichment

Over the past few years, the international space industry has focused extensively on advancing technologies to enable prolonged human space exploration missions. The primary limiting factor for these endeavors is the spacecraft’s capacity to transport and store essential supplies from Earth to support human life and mission equipment throughout the mission’s duration. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is the preferred solution for this challenge. Previous lunar missions have identified the presence of oxygen within the lunar regolith, which is an important resource for human space exploration missions. Oxygen is present in many different minerals within the lunar regolith out of which, ilmenite provides the highest yield of oxygen per unit mass using hydrogen reduction. However, the distribution of ilmenite is neither high nor uniform throughout the lunar surface and therefore, needs beneficiation, which is an important intermediate step for ilmenite-based oxygen production. A regolith beneficiation testbed was developed at DLR Bremen which is a TRL 4 level representation of the technology. The testbed has multiple process parameters that can be adjusted to produce the desired feedstock. This work focuses on the optimization of this testbed to produce a feedstock with higher ilmenite content than the input regolith. The testbed comprises three beneficiation techniques, viz. gravitational, magnetic and electrostatic beneficiation that work sequentially to produce the desired feedstock. The optimized parameter configuration achieved up to three-fold increase in the ilmenite grade relative to the input with about 32 wt% of the total ilmenite being recovered in the enriched output. These experiments have highlighted other underlying factors that influenced the experimental research such as the design of testbed components, system residuals and limited availability for Off-the-shelf components. The observations made from these experiments have also provided insights into the further development of the technology. The work has thus produced evidence for the effectiveness of the beneficiation testbed in producing an enriched feedstock while outlining avenues for future improvements.

Ilmenite Content of Different Genesis of Productive Sediments of the Trostyanytsky Deposit

The article presents information on the geological structure and ore content of the Trostyanytsky ilmenite deposit located in the northern part of the Volodarsk-Volynskyi massif of the Korostensky pluton bedrock. The deposit is localized in the weathering crust of the basement crystalline rocks and continental deluvial-alluvial and alluvial sediments of the Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous, which were formed by erosion and redeposition of eluvium. Weathering crust together with deluvial-alluvial and alluvial sediments formed the productive deposits of the Trostyanytsky deposit. On the basis of the created target database containing conditional coordinates of wells, their description and testing results, mapping constructions (isohypses of the roof, sole, isopachites of the thickness of the weathering crust of crystalline rocks of the basement, alluvial sands and redeposited kaolins of the Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous) were carried out; lateral distribution of the average ilmenite content in the weathering crust, in the Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous fluvial deposits and in productive sediments, distribution of ilmenite content in the vertical section of wells). These mapping constructions were created based on the results of preliminary (1999) and detailed (2008) geological exploration. The direction and strength of correlations between the topography of the sole and the surface, topography of the sole and the thickness of ilmenite-bearing formations, sole relief and ilmenite content, sediment thickness and ilmenite content in the weathering crust, alluvial deposits of the Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous and in productive deposits. The obtained results made it possible to clarify the structural and material parameters of the ore-bearing rocks, the lateral and vertical distribution of ore bearing in different genetic and different age's formations.

LATERAL AND VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF TITANIUM-ZIRCONIUM MINERALS WITHIN OF THE ANDRIIVSKYI AND LIKARIVSKYI DEPOSITS (SOUTH-WESTERN PART OF THE NOVOMYRHOROD MASSIF)

General information on the geological structure and ore-bearing capacity of the Likarivske and Andriivske deposits, which are located in the southwestern part of the Korsun-Novomyrhorod pluton within the Novomyrhorod massif (South-Western part), is provided. The productive deposits of the Likarivske and Andriivske deposits are represented by the weathering crust formation and the continental alluvial sand-kaolin formation of the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian-Lower Albian). On the basis of the coordinates, description and results of testing wells, a target database was created. On the basis of this database, cartographic constructions were carried out. The structural (relief of the bottom and of the top surfaces of ore-bearing deposits and their thickness) and material (lithological composition of productive deposits; lateral distribution of the average content of ilmenite, zircon, rutile and apatite in productive deposits) parameters of different ages and different genetic formations of the Likarivske and Andriivske deposits were studied. The direction and strength of correlations between ilmenite, rutile, zircon, and apatite in the weathered crust and continental sediments (sands and redeposited kaolins) of the Lower Cretaceous were studied. It was established that within the limits of the Likarivske and Andriivske deposits, during the geological development of the territory, a zircon-apatite-ilmenite ore-bearing system of different time and different genetics was formed, which is represented by a spatial-paragenetic series: crystalline rocks of the foundation; weathering crusts of crystalline rocks of the foundation; fluvial formations formed due to erosion and redeposition of eluvium; fluvial formations that were formed due to erosion and redeposition of eluvium and Mesozoic-Cenozoic placers of different ages. The results of the research are an information base for supporting mining operations within the studied deposits.

Polychronic-polygenic spatial-paragenetic ilmenite bearing of the Bukinska area of the Mezhyrichny deposit of titanium ores

Introduction. The primary task, aimed at meeting the needs of our own titanium raw materials, is to put into operation as soon as possible the deposits in which spatially and paragenetically different ore bearing capacity is combined in a spatial and paragenetic way and which have sufficient detail been studied. One of these deposits is Mezhyrichne, which is located within the Volyn megablock, in the central part of the Korosten pluton, Zhytomyr region. Within the deposit, several areas have been identified, including Bukinska. The purpose of the publication. To investigate the ilmenite ore-bearing of the polygenic-polychronic spatial-paragenetic ore-bearing system within the Bukinska area, which is composed of ore-bearing rocks of the foundation, their weathering crust, continental alluvial (Aptian-Lower Albian) deposits (formed due to erosion and redeposition of eluvium) and coastal-sea (Turonian) formations (formed due to erosion and redeposition of Lower Cretaceous alluvium and partially weathering crust). Materials and Methodology. The methodical and methodological basis of the research was the work of the autors on the structural and lithological modeling of placers of heavy minerals. The actual material for the studies were the production reports and scientific publications. A target database was created for cartographic modeling of the structure and quality indicators (distribution of ilmenite content along the lateral spread and vertical cross-sections of wells) of the rocks. The database contains the coordinates of 1635 wells, their description, test results. Cartographic constructions were made in Inkscape, Golden Software Strater, and Golden Software Surfer software. Correlations between certain parameters of ore-bearing sediments were studied in Microsoft Excell. Main Results. Information on the geological structure of the Bukinska area of the Mezhyrichne titanium ore deposit is given. It has been found that the ore-bearing potential of the area is determined by a polygenic-polychronic spatially-paragenetically connected ore system. This ore system is composed of titanium-bearing rocks of the crystalline basement of the Volodarsk-Volyn complex, their weathering crusts, Lower Cretaceous continental, Upper Cretaceous coastal – marine products of erosion and redeposition of eluvium and to a lesser extent and partially heterogeneous formations of the Quaternary system. Maps of the relief of the bottom, the top surface and thickness of the ore-bearing rocks have been constructed. The lateral distribution of the average ilmenite content in all rock types was studied. The directionality and strength of correlations were investigated. The peculiarities of the distribution of ilmenite in the vertical section of formations of different ages and different genesis have been clarified. Conclusions. A target database was created, on the basis of which a set of maps was built, which made it possible to study the structural and material parameters of ore-bearing deposits. The ore-bearing potential of the polygenic-polychronic spatial-paragenetic system of the Bukinska area was qualitatively and quantitatively assessed. It has been found that the Bukinska area, within which there is a spatially and paragenetically combined temporal and heterogeneous ore bearing, has a significant ore-bearing potential and is attractive for investment. The obtained results are an information base for supporting mining operations.

Long‐Term Landscape Evolution in Response to Climate Change, Ecosystem Dynamics, and Fire in a Basaltic Catchment on the Colorado Plateau

AbstractPredicting responses of semi‐arid to montane landscapes in southwestern North America to ongoing anthropogenic changes requires understanding of past interplay among geomorphic, ecologic, and climatic factors. This study utilizes modern weathering and sediment transport processes to inform the interpretation of a 250‐kyr lacustrine sediment record of paleoecology, hydrology, and erosion from a small, closed basin, basaltic catchment on the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau. Geochemical and mineralogical analyses of bedrock, colluvium, and lake sediments indicate that clastic sediments in the basin are a mixture of local physical weathering products (albite and ilmenite) and eolian dust (quartz, illite, and zircon). Dust fractions increase during glacial periods coincident with lower overall sedimentation rates, suggesting this pattern results from decreased local erosion rates and not increased dust deposition. Titanium counts from X‐ray fluorescence core scanning, a proxy for ilmenite content, traces past local erosion rates. The highest erosion rates, inferred from the highest Ti counts, follow climatic transitions toward interglacial conditions (Marine Isotope Stage 5e, 3a, and the Holocene), periods characterized by vegetation changeover (observed in the core's palynology), higher temperatures (piñon‐juniper‐oak pollen abundance), lower effective precipitation (shallow lake facies), and increased wildfire activity (microscopic charcoal particle counts and sizes). While brief inferred episodes of erosion occur following abrupt transitions to cooler and wetter conditions, indicated by the abundance of subalpine tree (spruce and fir) pollen and deeper lake facies, landscapes appear more stable during glacial periods. This long‐term perspective suggests that aridification and resulting vegetation succession and increased wildfires will increase erosion rates in similar settings regionwide.

Experimental Investigation of TiO2 Pigment Production by Electrodialysis Process from Ilmenite Concentrate

Experimental Investigation of TiO2 Pigment Production by Electrodialysis Process from Ilmenite Concentrate

Characterization and Upgrading of Low-grade Brahmaputra River Basin Ilmenite Concentrate: Exploring an Alternate Feedstock for Synthetic Rutile Preparation

Characterization and Upgrading of Low-grade Brahmaputra River Basin Ilmenite Concentrate: Exploring an Alternate Feedstock for Synthetic Rutile Preparation