QUALITATIVE COMPARISON BETWEEN PELLET FEED AND SINTER FEED IRON ORE THROUGH SCREENING AND MICROSCOPY

Abstract

Iron ores such as sinter feed and pellet feed are among the largest commodities transported in Brazil. They have similar chemical compositions but differ in particle morphology. The present work is part of a larger project aimed at evaluating the drainage characteristics of both ores during transport in open gondola-type wagons, which tend to accumulate unwanted rainwater. The presented study is limited to a qualitative comparison of the physical differences between two distinct ores from the Brucutu and Mariana Mines, both located in Minas Gerais, Brazil, which is important for future analyses on adhesion and physicochemical behavior, based on particle size classification and optical microscopy analysis. Pellet feed is more homogeneous and refined, while sinter feed is a heterogeneous mixture of fine and coarse particles.

Keywords: Pellet feed; Sinter feed; Granulometry; Optical Microscopy; Iron ore.