Investigation of the beneficiation of refractory ferromanganese ores “Zhomart” deposits

In order to provide ferroalloy production with high-quality raw materials, the need to develop technologies for processing of low-grade manganese and ferromanganese ores is becoming increasingly important. In view of the change in the quality characteristics of ores, the decrease in manganese content and the ability to beneficiation by traditional methods, it is necessary to consider new approaches and technological solutions. The article presents data from a study on the beneficiation of refractory iron-manganese ore from the Zhomart deposit. The mineralogy, physical and mechanical properties, and granulometric composition of the ore were determined. The results of a study on gravitational beneficiation using a laboratory pulsator with a pneumatic drive and a laboratory 2-chamber diaphragm jigging machine and magnetic beneficiation of ore with a high-intensity magnetic field are presented. Iron-containing concentrate (Fe-45% and Mn-6.5% is mainly represented by hematite mixed with non-metallic minerals quartz and calcite) and iron-manganese concentrate (Mn-21.7% and Fe-21.1% in the form of hematite, Brownite and pyrolusite, also mixed with quartz and calcite). The concentrates are not suitable for smelting manganese-containing ferroalloys but can be used in the process of electrothermal beneficiation with selective carbothermal reduction of iron in an ore-thermal furnace. The smelting products can be manganese cast iron and iron-free, low-phosphorus limiting manganese slag with a high ratio of manganese to iron.