Title

CHALLENGES OF INDIAN IRON ORE INDUSTRY – GEOLOGY, MINING AND PROCESSING PERSPECTIVE

CHALLENGES OF INDIAN IRON ORE INDUSTRY – GEOLOGY, MINING AND PROCESSING PERSPECTIVE

Authorship

Srivastava, Suresh; Chikhale, Milind

Srivastava, Suresh

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Chikhale, Milind

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DOI

10.5151/2594-357X-23941

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Abstract

National Steel Policy of India envisages more than 200 million tonnes of steel production by 2025-26. An iron ore requirement of about 500 million tonnes, more than 2.5 times the current iron ore production of about 200 million tonnes, needs to be met for achieving this including the export demand and commitments. This paper covers the issues and concerns related to geology, mining and processing of Indian iron ore, and the possible solutions and way ahead for achieving the desired goals. It includes reserves and resources of Indian iron ore, its type, distribution and mineralisation, the need for detailed exploration as well as improved mining practices in view of conservation and better utilisation for sustained growth; the challenges of processing low grade in-situ ores, stacked -10/6 mm fines and -0.150 mm slimes impounded in tailing ponds as a result of selective mining and processing of high grade iron for decades for pig iron and sponge iron production through BF-BOF/LD and DRI (mainly coal based)/EAF-IF routes; agglomeration of fine concentrate mainly into pellets and its need for maximum utilisation in the existing and upcoming Blast Furnace, DRI as well as alternate process based iron making plants.

National Steel Policy of India envisages more than 200 million tonnes of steel production by 2025-26. An iron ore requirement of about 500 million tonnes, more than 2.5 times the current iron ore production of about 200 million tonnes, needs to be met for achieving this including the export demand and commitments. This paper covers the issues and concerns related to geology, mining and processing of Indian iron ore, and the possible solutions and way ahead for achieving the desired goals. It includes reserves and resources of Indian iron ore, its type, distribution and mineralisation, the need for detailed exploration as well as improved mining practices in view of conservation and better utilisation for sustained growth; the challenges of processing low grade in-situ ores, stacked -10/6 mm fines and -0.150 mm slimes impounded in tailing ponds as a result of selective mining and processing of high grade iron for decades for pig iron and sponge iron production through BF-BOF/LD and DRI (mainly coal based)/EAF-IF routes; agglomeration of fine concentrate mainly into pellets and its need for maximum utilisation in the existing and upcoming Blast Furnace, DRI as well as alternate process based iron making plants.

Keywords

Iron ore; Beneficiation; Mining; Geology.

Iron ore; Beneficiation; Mining; Geology.