Author(s) :

YARO S. A, DUNGKA G. T.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

The chemical and mineralogical characteristics of Koton Karfe iron ore located at lgbide in Lokoja local Government area of Kogi State was investigated using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence Spectrophotometer (XRF), Gravimetric method of chemical analysis and Metallographic techniques. The results obtained, revealed that Pit 1 of Koton Karfe iron ore has an average total iron content (43.40% Fel), 10.14% (S102), 1.24% calcium (Ca), 0.70% manganese oxide (Mn), 0.10% and 0.0051% strontium (Sr) while pit 2 contained 0.9% Titanium (Ti), 0.16%, 26.50%Fer, 0.041% zircon (Zr), 0.0020% Niohium(Nh) and 39.413%Silica(Si02). Unfortunately, Phosphorus (1') and Sulphur (S) were beyond limit of detection in both samples by Gravimetric Method. Thin sections of the ore samples from the two Pits examined under polarized light revealed that the iron bearing minerals arc predominantly magnetite, goethite while siderite, quartz and hematite are minor in population in pit 1. Pit 2 has quartz as the major mineral, magnetite and hematite as minor while ilmenite, zireonitc and niobite are in traces. The micrograph of pill (plate 1) revealed that the ore is oolitic in nature while that of pit 2 (Plate 2) is pisolitic in nature. Based on the results obtained In• this study, Koton Karfe iron ore sample of pit I can be classified as medium grade, lost silica magnetite iron ore, while pit 2 as low grade, medium silica hematite iron ore. Finally, the combined results of chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the iron ore deposit obtained in this work have indicated that, the iron ore can be upgraded for use for the production of Pig iron by the conventional Blast furnace route at the Ajaokuta iron and steel plant.

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