Classification of chromite:

Chromites can be classified on the basis of their Cr/Fe ratio. The highestgrade chromites2-3 are those having a Cr/Fe ratio of more than 2,0 (usually
approximately 2,8) and those containing a minimum of 46 to 48 per cent
Cr203. These metallurgical-grade chromites occur in significant quantities in
South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the U.S.S.R. Chemical and refractory-grade
chromites typically have Cr/Fe ratios ranging from 1,4 to 2,0. Chemical-grade
(high-iron) chromites contain large amounts of iron, which often results in
Cr/Fe ratios of close to 1,0 (the ratios are usually from 1,5 to 2,1), although
the absolute amount of contained chromium ranges from 40 to 46 per cent
Cr203. However, it should be pointed out that South African high-carbon
chromium is produced mainly from Transvaal chromite with a Cr/Fe ratio of
approximately 1,5. Low-grade chromites are those that have low Cr/Fe ratios
and contain relatively small amounts of chromium. Refractory-grade
chromites contain relatively large quantities of Al 203 (greater than 20 per
cent) and have Cr203+ Al203 levels of more than 60 per cent.[1]

Chromite ore in Pakistan:

Pakistan produces about two per cent of total world production, and the
mineral is extracted mainly for export. The Pakistan areas have been
supplying chromite to the western market for the last sixty-five years.
Current Pakistan sources of chromite are located not only in the least
developed areas of West Pakistan, they are also producing low-grade ore.
The ore extracted in Pakistan will have little value until technological
methods of extraction, along with socio- political conditions of these areas
undergo change. Since the commodity is the source of foreign exchange
earnings to Pakistan, the mining operations of chromite need immediate
attention by public or semi- public organizations, with a view to improving
the methods of extraction of chromite to fetch a favorable price in the
international market. The purpose of this paper is to appraise the present
chromite mining operation conditions in Pakistan. Chromite is known to occur
with serpentines and other rocks of the peridotite family in the northwest of
West Pakistan. The serpentine and related basic rocks also occur in the north
along the core of the folded rocks of the Baluchistan- Waziristan areas in
which some further deposits may be found on detailed examination.
Chromite-bearing rocks are mainly concentrated in the Quetta Pishin and the
Zhob basins in the Quetta Division and in the North and South Waziristan
areas of Dera Ismail Khan Division of West Pakistan. The intrusions are widely
distributed along the hills bor- dering the Zhob Valley, and the upper part of
the Pishin Valley in the Quetta Division. They also occur in veins and
segregated masses in the Malakand and Mohmand agencies of West
Pakistan. At present, a11 commercially exploited deposits of chromite in

Pakistan are located in the Quetta Pishin and Zhob areas of Northeast
Baluchistan (Quetta Division).
The chief mining areas lie near Hindubagh and near Khanozai in the Zhob
Basin. The Hindubagh area deposits are much more important than those of
the Khanozai area deposits and have been producing since 1903.The
chromite masses sometimes attain a large size, as for instance, the deposits
two miles east of Khanozai which measure about 400 feet long and 5 feet
thick, and contain over 54 per cent Cr203.[2]
Uses:
Chromium is one of the most important industrial elements nowadays. The
chromium metal is used in metallurgical, and chemical, industries, whereas
in refractory, chromite, the main mineral of chromium, is a main constituent
in the refractory bricks for lining of high temperature furnace. In metallurgy,
chromium is used in stainless steels, tool and alloy steels, nickel-chromium
heating elements, in metal plating, manufacture of ferro-chrome alloys, and
in the manufacture of grinding media, balls and rods, and mill liners in
grinding plants. In chemical industry, it is used in the manufacture of paint
pigments and chemical compounds, as an oxidizing agent in organic
syntheses, as an electrolyte in chromium plating baths, and as an agent for
tanning and dyeing of leather. Chromite can be classified on the basis of the
Cr/Fe ratio. The highest grade chromites are those having the Cr/Fe ratio of
more than 2.0, and containing a minimum of 46% - 48% Cr2O3 .Chemical
and refractory grade chromites typically have Cr/Fe ratios ranging from 1.4
to 2.0. Low-grade chromites are those which have low Cr/Fe ratios and
contain relatively small amounts of chromium. Chromite occurs as a primary
mineral of ultra-basic igneous rocks, peridotites, and their modifications,
serpentine, talc carbonate, and chlorite. It also occurs in basic gabbros under
suitable conditions. Usually the chromite deposits occur as small grains, but
by the segregation of these grains, ore-bodies rich in Cr2O3 may be formed.
[3]
Chromium is one of the most versatile and widely used elements. Its use in
the metallurgical, chemical, and refractory industries is well known, and it is
an essential element in the production of a wide variety of stainless steels,
tool and alloy steels, nickel-chromium heating elements, and plating metals.
Its widespread use in the metallurgical industry is attributed to its capability
of enhancing properties such as resistance to corrosion or oxidation, creep
and impact strengths, and hardenability. Chromium compounds are used
extensively in the manufacture of paint pigments and chemicals, as oxidizing
agents in organic syntheses, as electrolytes in chromium plating baths, and
as agents for the tanning and dyeing of leather. In the form of chromite, it is

used in the production of refractory bricks for the lining of high-temperature

furnaces, and in the glassmaking and cement industries. There are few, if
any, materials that can replace chromium economically and satisfactorily
using present technology.[1]

References:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Nafziger, R.H., A review of the deposits and beneficiation of lower-grade

chromite. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall., 1982. 82(8): p. 205-226.
Siddiqi, A.H., CHROMITE MINING IN PAKISTAN. The Professional Geographer,
1968. 20(5): p. 342-345.
Seifelnasr, A.A., T. Tammam, and A.-Z.M. Abouzeid, Gravity concentration of
sudanese chromite ore using laboratory shaking table. Physicochemical
Problems of Mineral Processing, 2012. 48(1).
Hundhausen, R.J., Chromiferous Sand Deposits in the Coos Bay Area, Coos
County, Oregon. Vol. 4001. 1947: United States Bureau of Mines.
Koster, J., Studies on the treatment of domestic chrome ores. US Bureau of
Mines. Report of Investigations, 1936. 3322: p. 37.
Cousins, C., The Merensky Reef of the Bushveld igneous complex. Econ. Geol.
Monogr., 1969. 4: p. 239-251.

Worldwide occurrence:
United States of America:
Chromite Deposits All the chromite deposits in the U.S.A. are relatively small
and most are of lower grade. Being generally located in Alaska, Montana,
Oregon, and California, a further complication is their distance from
consuming plants. As most of the podiform deposits in Alaska and California
contain metallurgical-grade chromite. The largest deposit in the United
States lies in the coastal beach sands of south-west Oregon. Although
relatively extensive, these deposits, which can be classified as high-iron
deposits, are very low-grade and would require extensive beneficiation. The
beach sands contain quartz, olivine, pyroxene, ilmenite, rutile, zircon, garnet,
chromite, magnetite, hornblende, and epidote.[4]
The second most-extensive chromite deposit in the United States lies in the
Stillwater Complex in south-central Montana.[5]

Republic of South Africa:

The large Bushveld Complex in South Africa is a major world source of
chromium, having estimated reserves of up to 10 billion tons. The Complex is
located in the north-eastern portion of the country in the Transvaal, north of
Pretoria. The chromite deposits in the eastern portion of the Complex occur

in a layered sequence of mafic to ultramafic rocks, which contain olivine,

pyroxenes, and plagioclase, the layers being up to 18 m thick. Most of the
Bushveld chromite is classified as chemical-grade (high-iron).Thin seams of
chromite also occur in the Merenskv Reef.[6]
Zimbabwe:
The reserves of high-iron chromites in the Transvaal and Zimbabwe
constitute probably the greatest resource of chromium known in the world. In
Zimbabwe, the chromites occur as seams in the Great Dyke, an extensive
layered intrusion extending NNE-SSW for almost the length of the country
and consisting of four ultrabasic complexes. Associated minerals include
pyroxenes, olivine, and plagioclase.[6]
Cyprus:
Cyprus Podiform chromite deposits are located in dunites in the Troodos area
of the island of Cyprus. These ores contain massive and disseminated
chromites.[1]