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A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF MINERAL AND METALLURGICAL PROCESSING OF MARINE
ORES
Arman EHSANI, Research Assistant, Adana Science and Technology University, Mining and Mineral
Processing Engineering Department. Adana, Turkey. [email protected].
ABSTRACT
Seas and oceans constitute about 70% of the earth’s surface. It contains an enormous stock of various
mineral resources such as sedimentary (marine placers), massive sulfide ore deposits, manganese nodules
and cobalt rich ferromanganese crusts. Sea and ocean floor ore deposits could well contribute to the
meeting of ever rising demand for raw materials in metal industry. In this regard, more research and
development in science and technology appear to be required to ensure maximum benefit from mineral
resources of seas and oceans. Since 1960s, a variety of mineral and metallurgical processes have been
studied and developed to deal with marine ores and extract metals such as gold, nickel, copper, cobalt,
manganese, tin, platinum group metals (PGM), zirconium, thorium, etc.
In marine environment, there are many parameters which can affect the selection of the mineral and
metallurgical processes. These include extend and grade of the deposit, mineralogical and chemical
properties of the deposit, and physical properties of minerals present with particular reference to particle
size distribution and mineral liberation size.
This paper briefly reviews the latest trends in processing and extraction of marine mineral resources.
Mineral processing technology is mostly applied for recovery of precious metals i.e. gold and PGM, in
particular, from marine placers. In general, pre-treatment (sizing, classification, dewatering), gravity
concentration techniques (spirals, jigs), flotation and magnetic and electrostatic separation are the options
for enrichment of marine placer ore deposits. Hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical methods can be
exploited for extraction of metals from metal concentrates after physical separation or directly from marine
ores. The hydrometallurgical treatments involve acid (sulfuric- hydrochloric) and alkaline (ammonia)
leaching with different reducing agents and pre-treatments such as roasting. Alternatively,
pyrometallurgical treatments involve mostly smelting, chlorination and vaporization processes.
KEYWORDS
Marine Minerals, Mineral processing, Hydrometallurgy, Pyrometallurgy