Title: Exploring the chemical and mineralogical characterisation of Muro iron ore towards value addition

Authors: Olushola Bamidele Nenuwa; Joseph Olatunde Borode; Oladunni Oyelola Alabi

Addresses: Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, P.M.B. 5351, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria ' Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria ' Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract: Iron ore collected from Muro, Nasarawa State, Nigeria was analysed with the aid of an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS) and petrographic microscope. The XRF results revealed total iron content (FeT) of 30.86-35.21% and SiO₂ is 48.7-51.1%. The XRD results showed that the ore majorly contained quartz (54%) and goethite (44%). The SEM photomicrograph revealed greyish portions which are the iron-bearing minerals and dark portions which are the silica. The EDS analysis revealed the predominant elements in the ore as iron (Fe) and silicon (Si) with a composition of 52.60% and 34.95%, respectively. The petrographic investigation revealed that the dark opaque minerals found on the photomicrographs are iron oxides and the major associated gangue mineral is quartz. Muro iron ore may be another potential source of raw material for the iron and steel industries.

Keywords: beneficiation; chemical; comminution; iron ore; mineral characterisation; mineralogy; mineral processing; Muro; Nigeria; petrography.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2022.129770

International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, 2022 Vol.13 No.4, pp.318 - 332

Received: 15 Aug 2022
Accepted: 05 Feb 2023
Published online: 25 Mar 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article