Mineralogical studies of low grade iron ore from Bellary-Hospet region, India

Abstract

Detailed mineralogical characterization study has been conducted on low grade iron ore sample from Bellary-Hospet region, Karnataka, India by using XRD, optical microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy techniques for identifying the eminence of iron ore sample. Liberation analysis was carried out by particle size analysis and specific gravity measurement. Chemical analysis results showed that, -125+90μ size fraction assaying up to 57.34% Fe, 8.55% SiO <inf>2</inf> and 8.6% Al <inf>2</inf> O <inf>3</inf> . XRD analysis revealed the presence of major hematite phase along with kaolinite, gibbsite, quartz and goethite in the sample. Microscopic study confirms the transformation of magnetite to hematite by martitization. Mössbauer spectrum reveals the existence of hematite α-Fe <inf>2</inf> O <inf>3</inf> phase with small distortion in crystal structure. © 2019 Author(s).