About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2027 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Rare Metal Extraction & Processing
|
| Presentation Title |
Investigation of Iron Alloy Morphology and Niobium Deportment During CaCl2 Flux-Assisted Reduction of Martinson Lake Laterite Ore |
| Author(s) |
David James Carter, Jason P Coumans, Nail Zagrtdenov |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
David James Carter |
| Abstract Scope |
Martinson Lake (ON, Canada) laterite ore contains niobium (Nb), iron (Fe), and rare earth elements (REEs), representing a potential unconventional source of critical minerals. A CaCl2 flux-assisted reduction process developed at CanmetMINING selectively metallizes Fe while retaining Nb and REEs in the slag for downstream recovery. This study evaluates the effects of reduction temperature (1100 and 1200 °C) and ore:reductant ratio on Fe metallization, alloy morphology, and Nb deportment.
Reduction behavior was monitored by thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass-spectrometry, while products were characterized using X ray microtomography, SEM-based quantitative mineralogy, and WDS-EPMA.
Higher reductant additions promoted Fe metallization but increased phosphorus transfer from ore phosphate phases to the alloy. At 1200 °C and an ore:petcoke ratio of 100:12, dense, Fe-rich alloy particles suitable for physical separation from slag were produced and contained minimal Nb.
The results support the development of an integrated process for recovering Fe, Nb, and REEs. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Pyrometallurgy, Extraction and Processing, Characterization |