CHEMICAL, MINERALOGICAL AND PRE-CONCENTRATION ANALYSIS OF AZEKU IRON ORE, BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research work was carried out to characterize chemical, mineralogical, and Pre-concentration of Azeku Iron Ore. The head sample was subjected to analysis using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Optical Microscopy (OPM). The Iron ore was then subjected to Scrubbing pre-concentration test for five minutes at a spindle speed of 750 rpm and was later analyzed to see the effect of the scrubbing.  Chemical analysis of the representative sample reveals that the ore contains the following elemental compositions using XRF analysis: 55.44% Fe, 2.81% Al, 2.0% Si, 0.99% P, 0.024% S, 0.323% Ca, 0.199% Ti, 0.075% V, 0.058% Cr and 0.043% Mn. The mineralogical analysis results of XRD, SEM/EDS and OPM show the presence of goethite (80%) and cronstedtite (20%) that are separated by smooth grain boundaries and are not locked with other minerals hence can be liberated from other associated minerals. From the SEM image the average particle size and surface area of the mineral were found to be 27.44 µm and 44.63 µm2 respectively using image J software. Pre-concentration test by scrubbing was carried out on the liberation size in order to enrich the ore. The XRF result of the scrubbed ore indicates 60.05% Fe (85.85 ), 0.54%  Al,1.12% Si,0.21% P,0.018% S from unscrubbed liberation size ore of 59.37% Fe,3.22% Al,2.56% Si,0.85% P and 0.026% S, composition. The XRD mineralogical analysis confirmed that the silica bearing mineral has been scrubbed, thereby leaving goethite mineral in the scrubbed concentrate. Based on the results obtained, it can be seen that Azeku Iron Ore could be another potential source of   mineral for the Iron and Steel industry in Nigeria.