Assessing the Grindability Behaviour of Anka (Zamfara State, Nigeria) Manganese Ore towards Effective Manganese Mineral Liberation

Abstract

The Bond standard grindability test provides a Work Index that is widely used to estimate the energy required for ore grinding. The research investigates the work index of Anka Manganese ore at Anka deposit in Zamfara state, Nigeria. The reference ore (Quartz) was sourced from the studied ore overburden in the mine. The test ore and the reference ore were characterized using Energy Dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, X - ray Diffractometer and the Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with Energy Dispersive Spectrum. 500 g each of the manganese ore and quartz were sampled and prepared by crushing and grinding to 100% passing 1200 μm sieve. 100 g of prepared ores were charged into array of sieve arranged in √2 series from 1000 μm to 63 μm. Set of sieves were mounted on the Automated Pascal Denver sieve shaker (16153) and was in operation for 20 minutes. The work index of reference ore was used to calculate the work index of the test ore using Gaudin Schuman expression to obtain a work index of 14.16 Kwh/ton for test ore and it lies within the work index of 10-15.14 Kwh/ton for manganese ore stated in the literature and the energy expended to achieve communition at mineral liberation size was calculated to be 3.3984 Kw/ton.