Chromite ore beneficiation

Prepared by
Mukesh Ranjan Behera
 Introduction
 Steel scenario
 Physical and chemical properties
 Occurrences
 Classification and uses
 World chromite production
 Global reserves and demand
 List of companies engaged
 Potential of India
 Mining methods
 Beneficiation
 Cost variation
To gain the basic knowledge of chromite
 Its formation
 Global presence
 Uses
 Mining methods
 Beneficiation practice
Introduction
Chromite occurs as a chromium spinel, a complex
mineral containing magnesium, iron, aluminum
and chromium in varying proportions depending
upon the deposit. Chromium is replaced by ferric
iron & aluminum to form hercynite(FeAl2O4)and
iron is replaced by magnesium to form magnesio
chromite(MgCr2O4).

It is this replacement that improves the Cr/Fe ratio

in chromite. Chromium ore occurs exclusively in
ultramafic igneous rocks.
2.5 Tons of chromite ore

1 Ton Ferro chrome

4 tons Stainless steel

 Properties of Chromite
Chemical Classification oxide

dark gray to black, rarely brownish

Color
black
Streak dark brown
Luster metallic to submetallic
Diaphaneity opaque
Cleavage none
Mohs Hardness 5.5 to 6
Specific Gravity 4.0 to 5.1 (variable)
Diagnostic Properties luster, streak

FeCr2O4 with magnesium

Chemical Composition substituting for iron in significant
amounts

Crystal System isometric

Uses an ore of chromium
Occurrences/ Deposits
.
Continue….
Classification uses
World chromite reserves and production graphs
Source: Industrial Minerals 2011
 Production Production
Country Reserves('000
2011 ('000 2012 ('000
metric tons)
metric tons) metric tons)

South Africa 10,200 11,000 200,000

Kazakhstan 3,800 3,800 210,000

India 3,850 3,800 54,000

Others 5,450 5,300 N/A

World Total 23,300 24,000 >460,000

Demand
 List of Company

• African Consolidated Resources Plc

• Anglo Pacific Group plc
• ASA Metals (Pty) Ltd
• Chrometco Limited
• Chromex Mining
• Consolidated Minerals Limited
• Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation
• International Ferro Metals South Africa (Pty) Limited
• Kefid Machinery
• Kemai Machinery & Equipment Co Ltd
• Kermas Group Limited
• Mas Minerals
• Merafe Resources Ltd
• Metal Bulletin Events
• Southbridge International Trade Corporation
• vpr Mining Infrastructure Suarl
• Zimbabwe Alloys Chrome Limited
• Zimbabwe Mining & Smelting Co. (Pvt) Ltd
CHROMITE ORE POTENTIAL OF INDIA

1st IN
EXPORT
OF
CHROME
ORE

3rd in
chromite
India 5th IN
TERMS OF
CHROME
production ORE
RESERVE
 CHROMITE ORE POTENTIAL IN INDIA
TOTAL RESOURCE ─ 213 Mt

POSSIBLE RESERVE
(69%) (31%) SUKINDA
ULTRAMAFIC
BELT

EASTERN INDIAN STATE BAULA-NAUSAHI

OF ORISSA IGNEOUS
(OVER 95% OF TOTAL) COMPLEX
 CHROMITE ORE POTENTIAL IN INDIA
“CHEMISTRY” OF CLEAN CHROME SPINELS FROM ORISSA

Location Cr/Fe Cr2O3% MgO% FeO% Al2O3%

Sukinda 3.35 57.5 14.01 15.12 12.60
3.30 58.7 12.57 15.57 11.82
3.86 58.9 16.10 13.40 10.70
3.30 56.6 11.70 15.60 11.10
Boula- 2.04 54.9 11.64 23.70 9.82
Nausahi 1.80 52.8 10.50 25.65 9.80
1.67 49.4 8.89 26.08 14.40

INDIA COMES UNDER HIGH-GRADE GROUP WITH COUNTRIES

HAVING AVERAGE Cr2O3 GRADE OF 39%.
 Mining Method

Extraction of the Chromite Ore

Both surface and underground mining methods will be used to mine the
chromite. Mining produces both ore and waste rock. Waste rock consists of
all other non-chromite bearing rock excavated during mining.

Surface Mining
Chromite ore is mined by surface methods. This includes an open pit from which surf ace
material, non-chromite bearing overburden and chromite ore,
will be excavated. The chromite ore containing rock will be drilled, blasted, removed and loaded
onto large trucks for hauling to the crusher and ore processing facility

Underground Mining
The transition to underground mining will be
considered once it is necessary to extract rock from
greater depths. The underground mine will be
reached from the bottom of the open pit. Blast hole
stopping methods will be used for underground
mining. Stopping occurs in underground mineral mining
when the surrounding rock is strong enough to allow
the drilling, blasting, and removal of ore without caving
Rock containing chromite ore
 CHROMITE BENEFICIATION IN INDIA

PAST
SCENARIO
MINING OF USE OF MANUAL
HIGH GRADE METHODS FOR
ORE DRESSING

LEAVING LOW AND

MEDIUM GRADE ORES
STACKED AS WASTE
Generally Chrome ore deposits are classified as
 Siliceous type (silica rich)
 Ferruginous type (iron rich)

Associated gangue minerals are

 Talc
 Quartz
 Hematite
 Goethite
 Limonite
 Serpentine
 Pyroxinite
Circuit description
Comminution(to prepare the ore for subsequent unit operations)
and concentration. The feed unit incorporates screening of the
ROM ore to 75mm from -220mm followed by two stage
crushing(primary& secondary crusher) and screening to produce
less than 3mm size fraction. This fraction is further ground to less
than 1mm and then upgraded utilizing conventional gravity
techniques like spiral concentrator and shaking table in the
concentration section.
Low grade chrome ore with Cr2O3 of about 20-30% of sukinda
region of India ,can be beneficiated to a marketable grade of 45%
Cr2O3 with 45-50% recovery, by grinding the chrome ore(d80
passing size 260 microns).
 CHALLENGES IN BENEFICIATION

ORE
CHARACTERISTICS

CHALLENGES
IN
BENEFICIATION

UTILISATION
LOSS IN
OF
TAILINGS
LATERITIC WASTE
MAJOR CHROMITE BENEFICIATION
PLANTS IN INDIA
RATED
OPERATOR LOCATION THROUGHP FEED PROJECTE
UT
GRADE D OUTPUT
CAPACITY
(tpy)
(% Cr2O3) (tpy);
(% Cr2O3)
FACOR Boula 200 000 44 000; 42-45
13-21 Cr/Fe = 1.4-4.7

Ostapal 80 000 30000; 46-48

25-30

TATA STEEL Bhimatnagar 1 100 000 65 000; 50 ± 2

(Sukinda) <38 Cr/Fe: 2.4-3.0

64 000;50 ± 2%
OMC Kaliapani 1 65 000
<38 Cr/Fe: 2.4-3.00
Price