Major processing breakthrough for Roper River Iron Ore Project delivers 61% Fe product

Andrew Topf | March 30, 2011 | 7:08 pm Australia Iron Ore 

Sherwin Iron Limited (ASX: SHD) says that fresh metallurgical testwork on the oolitic hematite from its Roper River Iron Ore Project in the Northern Territory using a simpler processing route has delivered an end product with significantly higher Fe grades.

The final product graded 61 per cent Fe, up from the 57-60 per cent Fe grades generated in earlier tests, while silica levels were reduced significantly to 6 per cent from the 8-10 per cent levels of previous tests.

The results were obtained using a single-pass magnetic separator on the oolitic hematite from the Project. The tests, which were undertaken by consultants Nagrom, under the supervision of SKM, confirmed that the highly saleable concentrate, which also contained just 2 per cent alumina, can be produced using a SLon magnetic separator with a yield of 56 per cent. This processing route is used widely in China.
The testwork was conducted on the pisolitic mineralisation from the Hodgson Downs Resource and is based on a progressive grinding circuit (rolls crusher) and single magnetic separation from one pass. The testwork confirms the potential for upgrade with minimum processing stages.
Optimisation studies are continuing to further enhance the production potential of this oolitic hematite.
The SLon Magnetic Separator was designed specifically to overcome the various drawbacks of traditional Wet High-Intensity Magnetic Separator (WHIMS) by incorporating a pulsating mechanism and vertical magnetic ring configuration. The SLon has received wide acceptance throughout China for iron ore recovery, with over 500 units in operation. This has been driven by the need to achieve superior metallurgical performance and low operating costs in the recovery of iron units.

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