Comparative study on mineralogy and beneficiation potential of western Crete iron ores

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate and compare the mineralogical characteristics of the western Crete iron ores in the Kakopetros and Arolithi areas. In addition, conventional beneficiation techniques, namely, magnetic and heavy liquid separation, were examined in order to potentially upgrade these ores. The ores were characterized through X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Scanning electron microscopy and ore microscopy. Kakopetros iron ore consists mainly of compact goethite masses, while cryptomelane in the form of concentric shells was observed in several samples. Arolithi ore consists of several compact masses of goethite and fine-grained graphite and pyrite which are dispersed in the groundmass. Conventional beneficiation of specific fractions indicated that the heavy liquid treatment of the 0.063-0.250 mm size fraction of the Kakopetros ore resulting in a significant increase in upgrading. Overall, the results showed that fine-grained gangue minerals are locked in the iron-rich masses, making the separation techniques of ores ineffective.