Thermal Transformations of the Nickel Laterite Agglomerate Phases and their Metallurgical Influence

Abstract:

In nickel laterite agglomerates from rotary kiln of RKEF process the phases lizardite and/or chrysotile, clinochlore, quartz and hematite were identified. The product contain SiO₂ (32.67%), Fe₂O₃ (24.68%), MgO (21.81%) and NiO (3.30%) as principal components. When thermal treatment were carried out weight differences can be observed where the adsorbed water removed during drying, without phase changes in temperatures ranging from 60°C to 100°C, indicated influence of mineral assemblage. Phase changes and weight loss was observed in calcination with clear crystalline restructuring of the serpentines and clinochlore at 500°C. Above this temperature new phases are crystallized until 820°C, when is formed forsterite and enstatite, provably trevorite and remaining unchanged quartz. There were identified nickel minerals. The nickel occurs in bearing phases as Mg-Ni ion substitution in the crystal structure. On the analyzed conditions might infer that these new phases formed can affect the pyrometallurgical process of reduction.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1012)
• Pages: 337-342
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.1012.337
• Online since: October 2020
• Authors: Rosinaldo Fonseca da Silveira*, Oscar Jesus Choque Fernandez, Patrícia Tereza Souza da Luz, Jaime Henrique Barbosa da Costa
• Keywords: Calcination, Extruded, Laterite, Ni-Fe

References

[1] J.F. Reilly: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019. (U.S. Government Publishing Office Washington, 2019).

[2] K. Quast, J. Addai Mensah, W. Slinner: Minerals Engineering Vol. 110 (2017), p.31.

[3] M. Landers, M. Gräfe, R. Gilkesm, M. Sanders, M.A. Wells: Australian Journal Earth Sciences Vol. 58 (2011), p.745.

[4] A. Oxley, M.E. Smith, O. Caceres: Minerals Engineering Vol. 88 (2015), p.53.

[5] E. Macambira: Prospecção Geológica e Geoquímica No Corpo Máfico-Ultramáfico da Serra da Onça. (Serviço Geológico do Brasil, Belém, 2001).

[6] A. Bunjaku, The effect of mineralogy, sulphur, and reducing gases on the reducibility of saprolitic nickel ores. Doctoral (Thesis). Espoo, 2013. Aalto University. (FI).

[7] D.G. Schulze: Clay Minerals. Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment. (D. Hillel Elsevier New York, 2005).

[8] J.W. Gruner: The American Mineralogist Vol. 33 (1948), p.679.

[9] M. Koltermann, H. Rasch: Schweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen Vol. 44 (1964), p.499.

[10] D. Hrsak, J. Malina, B. Hadzipasic: Materiali in Technologue Vol. 39 (2005), p.225.

[11] R. Trittschack, B. Grobéty: European Journal of Mineralogy Vol. 24 (2012), p.47.

[12] M. Cho, J.J. Fawcett: American Mineralogist Bol. 71 (1986), p.68.

[13] A. Steudel, R. Kleeberg, C.B. Koch, F. Frierich, K. Emmerich:nApplied Clay Science Vol. 132 (2016), p.626.

[14] J.N. Weber, R.T, Greer: The American Mineralogist Vol. 50 (1965), p.450.

[15] B. Nagy, G.T. Faust: The American Mineralogist Vol. 41 (1956), p.817.

[16] W. Smykatz-Kloss: Differential Thermal Analysis: Application and Results in Mineralogy. (Springer Berli, 1974).

[17] C. Viti: American Mineralogist Vol. 95 (2010), p.631.

[18] K.J. Mackenzie, D.G. Macgavin: Thermochimica Acta Vol. 224 (1994), p.205.

[19] B. Basu, M. Kalin: Tribology of Ceramics and Composites: A Materials Science Perspective. (Wiley, 2011).

[20] S. Li, Study of Nickeliferrous Laterite Reduction. Master (Dissertation). Hamilton, 1999. McMaster University. (ON) (CA).

[21] M.H. Caron: Transactions AIME Vol. 188 (1950), p.67.

[22] M. Valix, W.H. Cheung: Minerals Engineering Vol. 15 (2002), p.607.