Shantoushan Iron Ore Processing Facility (1)

The processing facility commenced operations in 1971, originally designed to handle a capacity of 6.5 million tons per annum (t/a). However, the actual processing capability has been limited to approximately 5 million t/a, primarily due to the lower efficiency of the self-grinding mill, which operates at a rate of 73 tons per hour.

Ore Characteristics

The ore processed at this facility consists mainly of actinolite, magnetite, and quartz, with additional contributions from hematite quartzite and actinolite schist. The primary iron-bearing mineral is magnetite, while the gangue minerals predominantly include quartz, actinolite, calcite, and talc. The ore exhibits a combination of strip and dense block formations, characterized by a medium to fine-grained texture.

The geological grade of the ore is recorded at 31.49%, with an average grade of 29.61%. The magnetic permeability of the ore is noted to be 40%. The density of the ore varies according to its iron content, typically measuring around 3.4 tons per cubic meter (t/m³), compared to a rock density of approximately 2.6 t/m³. The hardness of the ore ranges between 12 to 16, while the rock hardness is generally around 10. The looseness factor is estimated to be between 1.5 and 1.6.

Multi-Element Analysis of Ore

A detailed multi-element analysis of the ore reveals the following composition:

• Total Iron (TFe): 29.61%
• Silicon Dioxide (SiO₂): 50.84%
• Aluminum Oxide (Al₂O₃): 0.56%
• Calcium Oxide (CaO): 2.19%
• Magnesium Oxide (MgO): 2.12%
• Manganese (Mn): 0.059%
• Phosphorus (P): 0.098%
• Sulfur (S): 0.018%

Processing Methodology

The facility employs a magnetic separation process utilizing wet self-grinding technology. Operational practices have confirmed that the beneficiation process in use is largely effective. However, it has been observed that the processing capacity of the self-grinding mill falls short of the designed specifications. Despite this limitation, the majority of other production metrics are either meeting or closely approaching the intended design targets.

In summary, while the processing plant has encountered challenges related to its grinding capacity, the overall ore processing and beneficiation methods have proven to be viable, with most operational indicators performing satisfactorily.