Physical and chemical characterization of iron ore from east coast of peninsular Malaysia
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Date
2018-06
Authors
Latifah Suha Azmi
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Abstract
This study aims to physically and chemically characterize the iron ore from Bukit
Besi, Terengganu and Yan, Kedah. The particle size distribution analysis is determined by
using mechanical sieve shaker. Mineralogical characterization including optical
microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an energy dispersive X-ray
(EDX) studies were employed to determine the ore morphology and mineral liberation. X ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to identify the elemental
composition and mineral phases present respectively. The volumetric analysis is used to
determine the percent of Fe content in the samples. The particle size distribution for both
samples are in the range of coarse grained soil which is sand. The major element present
based on the XRF result is Fe with 67% and the three highest minor element present are
titanium, zinc and arsenic. Based on the XRD pattern, the dominant phases present are
goethite, hematite and quartz. Hematite, quartz and sulphide are minerals that observed
under optical microscope and the percentage of mineral liberation for sample A is 70%
while for sample B is 68%. The percent of Fe content in the sample A is 39.45% and for
sample B is 40.28%. The information gathered from this characterization study will aid in
the selection of suitable ore extraction process.