Geological and technological characterization of the manganese ore deposits of the Córrego do Cocho mine, Itapira (SP)

Authors

  • Nelson Angeli Universidade Estadual Paulista J. M. Filho; Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas; Departamento de Petrologia e Metalogenia
  • Henrique Khan Universidade de São Paulo; Escola Politécnica; Laboratório de Caracterização Tecnológica
  • Gabriel Mineo Ito Universidade Estadual Paulista J. M. Filho; Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas; Departamento de Petrologia e Metalogenia
  • Sebastião Gomes de Carvalho Universidade Estadual Paulista J. M. Filho; Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas; Departamento de Petrologia e Metalogenia
  • Jairo Roberto Jimenez-Rueda Universidade Estadual Paulista J. M. Filho; Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas; Departamento de Petrologia e Metalogenia
  • Ulisses Cyrino Penha Anglo Ashanthi Gold S.A

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5327/Z1519-874X2011000300007

Keywords:

Manganese ore, Gondites, Itapira Group, Degree of liberation, Mineral technology, Manganese sulphates

Abstract

The objects of this study are three manganese ore deposits and one mine derived from lateritic weathering of gondites (spessartine quartzites). These deposits are associated with Mn-rich garnet metasediments of the Itapira Group (Paleoproterozoic) and the reserves were estimated at approximately 2.0 x 10(6) tons with an average grade of 23% MnO2. The ore minerals are cryptomelane, pyrolusite, lithiophorite, spessartine and psilomelane. Several crystal shapes and textural characteristics were identified in this study, which are related to the degree of liberation, as confirmed by heavy media separation method. In this study, we determined the main characteristics of the liberation of manganese, which is concentrated in the fine grain-size fraction and is lost during ore dressing. Therefore, the low average content of MnO2 (28%) is due to this loss, whereas at grain size of minus 0.074 mm, contents near 40% MnO2 were observed. This suggests that the ore can be used for manufacturing manganese sulphate fertilizers. A comparative study with the ore deposits located at Ouro Fino (MG), mainly with the Caneleiras mine, showed that higher degree of liberation occurs in the coarse grain-size fractions (0.84 to 0.074 mm with MnO2 content of 38%). As a consequence, the ore can be used for manufacturing Fe-Si-Mn alloys.

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Published

2011-12-01

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2011)

Section

Articles

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How to Cite

Angeli, N., Khan, H., Ito, G. M., Carvalho, S. G. de, Jimenez-Rueda, J. R., & Penha, U. C. (2011). Geological and technological characterization of the manganese ore deposits of the Córrego do Cocho mine, Itapira (SP) . Geologia USP. Série Científica, 11(3), 107-130. https://doi.org/10.5327/Z1519-874X2011000300007