The characterization of the magnetic fraction of a tail from phosphate rock processing was done. Samples were from Tapira, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The main physical, chemical and mineralogical properties, as well as this material response to separation processes were determined. The first part of this work encompasses the mineralogical characterization (determination of particle size distribution, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy). In the second part, concentration tests by magnetic separation, flotation and acid leaching were carried out. The iron-bearing material is composed predominantly of magnetite, hematite and ilmenite. Wet low intensity magnetic separation has reached iron recovery above 96 %. As far as flotation is concerned, fatty acid soap from vegetal oil (Hidrocol) as a collector for silicates and apatite was better than amine. Attrition or scrubbing prior to conditioning seems not to affect flotation performance in this case. Acetic acid has extracted only 0.41 % of the phosphorus, and hydrochloric acid has depleted 73.05 % of the phosphorus in the samples under leaching.
Technological characterization; iron ore; magnetite; phosphate rock
