Caracterização física, química e mineralógica de uma amostra de minério de ferro de brucutu

Abstract

The characterization of an ore allows the predictability of its behavior in relation to the concentration methods. Only size and chemical analyses are not always sufficient, and the recognition of mineral species, their proportions, grain form, and liberability are also fundamental. In this work the physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of an iron ore from Brucutu mine in Quadrilátero Ferrífero is presented. Particle size analyses were carried out by sieve and laser granulometer, chemistry by X-ray fluorescence and mineralogical by optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Based on the results obtained, the ore was classified as friable, with an overall Fe content of 42.9% and SiO2 of 36.1%. The iron minerals identified were hematite and goethite, and the main gangue mineral was quartz. In the fraction +1.0 mm the quartz occurs mainly in mixed particles with the hematite and goethite grains. Below this size, the same occurs as free particles. Above 0.15 mm the hematite is predominantly porous, and below 0.15 mm granular. Goethite is associated with granular hematite in all size distribution.Keywords: Characterization; Iron ore; Mineral processing.