Presented by : 1.

Hafid Zul Hakim 22115010

2. Muh. Idris Juradi 22115022
3. Suriyanto Bakri 22115025
4. Mubdiana Arifin 22116008
5. Sitti Ratmi Nurhawaisyah 22116009

REKAYASA MINERAL & METALURGI

FTTM-ITB
2017
Journal Source
OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION

MATERIALS

METHODS & RESULTS

Optical Microscope (OM)
X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA) METHODS
ChemBET TPR/TPD TG-DSC

Texture and structure ore

Mineral composition and dissemination characteristics in the raw ore
Distribution rates and dissemination characteristics of nickel in raw ore RESULTS
Thermal characteristics of ore
A treatment process for Yunnan nickel laterite ore

CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
The use of laterite ore a a major nickel source is gradually increasing because of the
depletion of sulphides ores

However, in contrast to high-grade nickel sulphide ore, low-grade nickel laterite ore
cannot be easily upgrade by current technologies due to its complicated mineral
structure and nickel distribution

Indonesia, which is the world's largest supplier of nickel ore, issued an injunction
against ore exports at the beginning of 2014

This study investigated the mineralogical characteristics, occurence state and

dissemination characteristics, the thermal properties and reduction behaviour

Based on those investigation the researcher can determine the reasonable utilization of
the Yunnan nickel laterite ore
MATERIALS
A nickel laterite ore sample from Yunnan Province,
China used in this experiments
METHODS & RESULTS
 Optical Microscope (OM)
Analysis

Schematic of optical microscope LEICA DM 4500P

 Texture & Structure of Ore
Olivine exhibited idiomorphic granular texture and
was completely transformed into serpentine after
alteration. So the original olivine structure within
the serpentine to be pseudomorphic. (Fig. 1b)

Fig. 1. OM image of ore sample. (a): distribution of maghemite (Mag) in

ore; (b): illusion of olivine (Ol) structure within serpentine (Sp)
aggregations
The intergrowth between magnetite and limonite
formed maghemite (Mag), which was distributed in
serpentines with disseminated and nervate
structure. (Fig. 1a)

Fig. 2. OM images of serpentine structures in laterite ore.

(a): reticulate; (b): brecciated; (c): fibrous; (d): scaly.
 XRD Analysis

Schematic of XRD Principle Work

1. The high voltage generator (A) functions as an X-ray source

power supply (B)
2. The pellet-shaped sample (C) is placed on an adjustable
platen (D).
3. The X-ray beam is inspired by the sample and is focused
through the gap (E), then into the counter (F). If the sample
rotates by 2 then the counter is equal to
4. The intensity of X-ray diffraction is recorded in the form of
D/max-R diffractometer
curves to the distance between planes d.
 EPMA Analysis

Work mechanism in EPMA JEOL JXA 8230

 Mineral compositions & dissemination characteristics in the raw ore

OXIDES

The mineral phases in raw ores

Fig. 4. EPMA analyses of ore sample: numbers represent the positions of

EPMA analyses (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10-limonite (Lim); 3, 4-serpentine (Sp); 1-
bravoite (Bra)).
The primary limonite is distributed in the form of aggregate (Fig. 4a)
Limonite presentsan illusion of whartonite (Fig. 4b 5,6)
Chromite were commonly intergrown with limonite (Fig. 4c, d)
Fig. 3. XRD pattern of laterite ore
A Small percentage of magnetite and limonite formed maghemite
sample
(Mag)(Fig. 4b, e)
Mineral compositions & dissemination characteristics in the raw ore cont...

OXIDES cont..
SILICATES
Serpentine consisted of lizardite and antigorite were
difficult to distinguish under the microscope
Mg and Si within the serpentine had been partly
replaced by Fe, Al, Cr and Ni .
The corresponding EPMA results are listed in Table 4
 SEM Analysis

CARL ZEISS-EVO18

Work Mechanism in SEM

Mineral compositions & dissemination characteristics in the raw ore cont....

SULPHIDES
The sulphides which contained pyrite and
bravoite can be exclusively and
occasionally found by the method of
electron probe analysis.
As shown in Fig. 4a and Fig. 5.

Fig. 5. SEM images of pyrite in nickel laterite

ore.
 Distribution rates & dissemination characteristics of nickel in raw ore

Ni was distibuted relatively even through

the ore by isomorphism or adsorption
The distribution rate of nickel in each mineral by
the EPMA method

Fig. 6 SEM images of laterite ore sample

 TPR Analysis

Quantachrome CHEM BET-3000

 Reduction property analysis

785oC

The reduction peak at 431.9C can be assigned to

reductions of NiO to Ni and Fe2O3 to Fe3O4,
respectively.
The reduction peak at 785.6C can be attributed to
reduction of Fe3O4 to FeO.
432oC

Fig. 10. H2-TPR profile of laterite ore.

 TG-DSC Analysis

TG Instrument

Thermogravimetry (TG) measuring principle

DSC Instrument

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

 Thermal properties analyses

Peak 825oC
TG
DSC
The thermal properties of Yunan nickel laterite can
Peak 87oC
be summarized as follows
a. Evaporation of moisture
b. The release of crystalline water from Lizardite
Peak 620oC
c. The Lizardite being transformed into forsterite

Mass Change : -9.10%

Fig. 9. TG-DSC curves of the laterite ore.

 A treatment process for Yunan nickel laterite ore

Fig. 12a Kamacite particles

have extremely small
particle sizes and are
scattered and embedded in
the forsterite
Fig. 12b,c Kamacite particles
sizes increase and become
concentrated at the surface
of the forsterite Fig. 12. SEM images of reduction roasted laterite ore under different conditions (a, b, c
corresponds to the Test 1, 2, 3 in Table 7).
A treatment process for Yunan nickel laterite ore cont..

Fig. 11. Flowsheet of Yunnan laterite ore treatment process in

principle
CONCLUSIONS
The results of analysis by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy indicated that
laterite ore had complicated structures; Ni was mainly distributed uniformly in serpentine in
the form of isomporhism or by adsorption. Thus, it was difficult to efficiently upgrade valuable
metals (Ni and Fe) by traditional physical beneficiation processes.

According to the characteristics of nickel laterite ore, a non-melting reduction treatment

process was designed. The preliminary test results indicated that a ferronickel concentrate with
6,81% (or 7,09%) Ni can be obtained via reduction roasting at 1200C for 40 min (or 20 min) in
the presence of 12% CaCl2.2H2O (or 10% NaCl) and 8% anthracite, followed by magnetic
separation. The corresponding recovery of nickel was ferronickel particle size can clearly be
improved after reduction roasting process, which promotes the separation of ferronickel and
silicates.
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