Beneficiation options for Darling Range bauxite

摘要

Darling Range bauxite contains pods of high grade laterite ore suitable for direct shipping as well as large deposits suitable for local refining to alumina. The tonnages available as direct shipping ore (DSO) can be extended by beneficiation of the near DSO grade material whilst refinery feed grades can be beneficiated to reduce bauxite residue and subsequent making refining more cost effective. The beneficiation is aimed at isolating low available alumina and or high reactive silica fractions of the ore. Beneficiation options studied and discussed in this paper include: ? Screening ? Magnetic separation ? High pressure water washing ? Jigging Results of each type of beneficiation are discussed and the potential upgrade of the feed material is given for typical bauxite grades from BRL's Southern and Northern tenements.