Variability of Crushability and Grindability of Iron Ores in an Itabirite Deposit
Abstract
The identification of ore types that share similar geological characteristics and metallurgical performance in a deposit is of great relevance in mine planning. In the case of a low-grade iron ore from Brazil, called itabirite, ore types are usually classified as compact and friable, in addition to canga. As itabirites become more widely exploited, friable itabirites have become scarcer, leaving more competent ores to be processed. The work investigates the response of 19 iron ore samples from the Serra do Sapo deposit (Minas Gerais, Brazil), through a variety of bench-scale comminution tests. In the context of crushing (>25 mm), one subtype of compact itabirite, called supercompact, presented substantially higher resistance to fragmentation than those of compact itabirite and canga. In the context of grinding (
Fields of Study & Subjects
Mineral Processing and Grinding
Mining Techniques and Economics
Minerals Flotation and Separation Techniques
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Minerals
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 473–473
- Publication date
- 30 April 2026
- Language
- EN