Evaluating the Efficiency of Producing Highly Metallized Concentrate from Bakal Siderites by Hot Reduction in a Rotary Kiln

The Bakal field is one of the largest deposits of iron ore in the South Ural. The reserves of siderite total about 1 billion tons, and their average iron content is 31.1%. Most of the rock comprising the siderites is an isomorphic mixture of carbonates of iron, magnesium, and manganese. The mineral inclusions are silicon-bearing slates, alumosilicates, sulfates, and carbonates. There is considerable interest in the possibility of using iron obtained from Bakal siderites by direct reduction as a raw material for electric furnaces. The interest in this is even greater in light of the fact that the quality of such a charge, composed of fresh raw materials, is higher than the quality of a charge made up of scrap metal. On the other hand, it is also necessary to consider the seriousness of the socioeconomic situation in the city of Bakal. The Bakal Mining Administration is the mainstay of the local economy. An analysis of the literature data and studies conducted by the Institute of Metallurgy has shown that one promising approach might be pyrometallurgical concentration of a charge in a rotary kiln to obtain a metal product that is close in composition to puddle iron.