Physico-chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Kaku Iron Ore, Kogi State, Nigeria

O. A. W. Oyeladun, N. A. Agbo2 and M. A. Usman

Department of Metallurgical Engineering Technology, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kadana
Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, Kaduna.

Keywords: Kaku iron ore, physico – chemical characterization, mineralogical.

Abstract

The physico-chemical and mineralogical characterization of Kaku iron ore was carried out. The physical observation revealed that the ore has a metallic lustre, dark bronze, with irregular or uneven breakage. For Kaku iron ore the hardness was found to be 5.5 to 6.0 using Mohr’s hardness scale, specific gravity of 5.36 and thermal and electrical conductivity (at 40oC) were found to be –4 11.9 W/mK and 6.77 x 10 S/m respectively. The chemical analysis revealed that the ore contained 0.38%P O , 8.79%Al O , 22.55%SiO , 0.14%CaO, 1.31%TiO , 66.37%Fe O and 0.21%Ag O. The mineralogical analysis of Kaku iron ore reveals only the presence of hematite, quartz, muscovite and orthoclase as the major mineral using XRD. The work index of Kaku iron ore was found to be 13.21 kWh/t. Engineering process route for Kaku iron ore can be design for economic and commercial purposes.