There are 5 kinds of IRON ? - Hematite (70% Fe)
- Magnetite (72% Fe)
- Goethite (63% Fe)
- Limonite (up to 60% Fe)
- Siderite (48.2% Fe)
NCP's - 2018 43 101 Report Only mentions
10% magnetite Question becomes... How much more iron percentage is there if one factors every other mineral
which has a formula that includes iron other than - magnetite ?
I've circled each other mineral that contains an iron formula https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53197043368_081a8903e4_c.jpg As one can see.... there's much more " iron " other than,
magnetite. In the 2018 report along with flowsheet... I do not recall seeing any "
roasting phase " .
Let's play suppose ? Suppose we keep the first extraction phase whereas,
25% mass extracted and
30%-40% PGE's tag along with 25% mass
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53196695641_ba29830c3e_c.jpg Let's suppose... A
regrind and
roasting phase is introduced next phase of flowsheet.
We know hematite is nonmagnetic but upon heating
converts to
magnetite. How much more magnetite could be amassed ?
How much more PGE's attached ?
Could 10% magnetite bump up to 12% - 15% ?
How about PGE's ?
What happens when one
roasts hematite, chalcopyrite, siderite, pentlandite, pyrrhotite, pyrite ? Pyrite + Pyrrhotite pyrite has paramagnetic properties, but when it is thermally treated and when the Curie temperature (Tc) is reached (between 280 and 320 ºC), pyrite is transformed into pyrrhotite, which can be ferromagnetic Goethite + Hematite + Siderite - Oxidative roasting of ores leads to weight losses in the range of 0.5-8%, implying the thermal decomposition of goethite to hematite and siderite to magnetite. Chalcopyrite During roasting, chalcopyrite reacts with air and decomposes to generate copper sulfate, sulfur dioxide, sulfur,
copper-iron oxides, copper-oxy sulfate, and
copper ferrite https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42452-020-03341-6 Roasting One can clearly see the benefits of, roasting ores when targeting, irons.
In addition, exploiting the magnetism to pull other valued minerals.
Laws of para magnetism, or minerals still bonded in, lattice structure.
Simple roasting phase acts as the
workhorse, assisting in,
magnetizing irons, pulling other minerals in iron bonds that are
originally nonmagnetic to magnetic.
Roasting could
exponetially reduce acids costs in latter phases.
Simplified Flowsheet...? Crush, Mill, pull avail magnetite + pge's
Roast, Grind to smaller mesh
Pull converted magnetite and other bonded minerals
Could this result in, 20% iron ?
Far more mineral concentrates ?
" Iron Metal " is not nessisarily
Fe.... what ???
It does contain - oxygen bonds.
Video - 2 minute overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=t8gue0o8C9U What is the formula for, magnetite ?
Fe3O4
Which brings into question...
Should the various iron minerals be quantified with lessor iron values
( refresh ones mind - refer to beginning of post )
Should various iron mineral forms grade lessor ?
EG - Magnetite 72%
Hematite 70%
If pure iron ( once refined ) = 100% iton yet contains oxygen,
Then why are iron minerals graded lessor ?
Wink.
Lastly, as one can read in my former posts... There's a significant bias between
$125/tonne - iron ore 61% grade
$45/tonne - 9% Nickel con with 47% iton
iron ore fetches far more.
Have i made a stance for the importance of, iron ?
Have i modelled a better extraction introducing - roasting ?
Flitstone ( mine operation )
Blast, Crush, Mill, Roast, Regrind
Such would reduce the capital exp of - $2.3 billion considerably.
Could the roasting phase
assist in better flotation, recoveries ?
333,400,000 million tonnes ( raw ore )
x 10% magnetite
or
333, 400,000 million tonnes ( raw ore )
x 15% 20% 25% ( all irons )
Something to ponder.
I'm thinking,
If the PFS was revised with the above ideas...
It could completely transform this, junior.
Throw in, hydrogen power using nearby lake water.
Affords the bypassing of, co2 sq in magnesium.
Wink.
Cheers