Effect of Cr_2O_3 addition on the oxidation induration mechanism of Hongge vanadium titanomagnetite pellets

As part of a research project to develop a novel clean smelting process for the comprehensive utilization of Hongge vanadium titanomagnetite（HVTM）, in this study, the effect of Cr2O3 addition on the oxidation induration mechanism of HVTM pellets（HVTMPs） was investigated in detail. The results showed that the compressive strength of the HVTMPs was greatly weakened by the Cr2O3 addition, mainly because of a substantial increase in the porosity of the HVTMPs. The Cr2O3 addition marginally affected the phase composition but greatly affected the microstructural changes of the HVTMPs. Increased amounts of Cr2O3 resulted in a decrease in the uniform distribution of the hematite grains and in an increase in the Fe–Cr solid solutions（Fe1.2Cr0.8O3 and Fe0.7Cr1.3O3） embedded in the hematite grains. Moreover, the compact hematite was destroyed by forming a dispersed structure and the hematite recrystallization was hindered during the oxidation induration, which adversely affected the compressive strength. On the basis of these results, a schematic was formulated to describe the oxidation induration mechanism with different amounts of added Cr2O3. This study provides theoretical and technical foundations for the effective production of HVTMPs and a reference for chromium-bearing minerals.

Study of oxygen fugacity during magma evolution and ore genesis in the Hongge mafic–ultramafic intrusion, the Panxi region, SW China

Economic concentrations of Fe–Ti oxides occurring as massive layers in the middle and upper parts of the Hongge intrusion are different from other layered intrusions(Panzhihua and Baima) in the Emeishan large igneous province, SW China. This paper reports on the new mineral compositions of magnetite and ilmenite for selected cumulate rocks and clinopyroxene and plagioclase for basalts. We use these data to estimate the oxidation state of parental magmas and during ore formation to constrain the factors leading to the abundant accumulation of Fe–Ti oxides involved with the Hongge layered intrusion. The results show that the oxygen fugacities of parental magma are in the range of FMQ-1.56 to FMQ+0.14, and the oxygen fugacities during the ore formation of the Fe–Ti oxides located in the lower olivine clinopyroxenite zone(LOZ) and the middle clinopyroxenite zone(MCZ) of the Hongge intrusion are in the range of FMQ-1.29 to FMQ-0.2 and FMQ-0.49 to FMQ+0.82, respectively.The MELTS model demonstrates that, as the oxygen fugacity increases from the FMQ-1 to FMQ+1, the proportion of crystallization magnetite increases from 11 % to 16 % and the crystallization temperature of the Fe–Ti oxides advances from 1134 to 1164 °C. The moderate oxygen fugacities for the Hongge MCZ indicate that the oxygen fugacity was not the only factor affecting the crystallization of Fe–Ti oxides. We speculated that theinitial anhydrous magma that arrived at the Hongge shallow magma chamber became hydrous by attracting the H_2O of the strata. In combination with increasing oxygen fugacities from the LOZ(FMQ-1.29 to FMQ-0.2) to the MCZ(FMQ-0.49 to FMQ+0.82), these two factors probably account for the large-scale Fe–Ti oxide ore layers in the MCZ of the Hongge intrusion.

Luku Alkali Syenite in the Hongge Ore District,SW China:Geochemistry,Geochronology and Metallogenic Significance

Luku alkali syenite is distributed throughout the southern end of the Hongge basic-ultrabasic intrusion in Panzhihua,Sichuan,SW China.Using LA-ICP-MS,the alkali syenite intrusion yielded a zircon U-Pb age of_(2)64.5±1.6 Ma,concordant with the ages of the E’meishan large igneous province(260 Ma).The intrusion displayed silica-saturated,Al-adequate and alkali-rich signatures,with SiO_(2)62.07%-64.04%,Al_(2)O_(3)16.26%-16.79%and Na_(2)O+K_(2)O 9.17%-9.91%(averaging 9.31%).The rock falls into the alkaline zone on the SiO_(2)-A.R.diagram,as well as in the potassium zone on the K_(2)O-Na_(2)O diagram,indicating a potassium alkaline rock.The rock has a low total REE concentration and showed enrichment in LREE(LREE/HREE=7.06-7.95),typical negative Eu anomalies(δEu=0.73-0.80),trace element deficiencies in LILEs(Ba,K,Sr,Zr)and enrichment in HFSEs(Th,U,Nd,Sm,Ta and Nb),displaying crust and mantle element information.Zircons show a strong positive Ce anomaly and negative Eu anomaly,similar to the characteristics of crustal source magmatic zircon,however the(Lu/Gd)N ratio ranges from 1.48 to 3.17,and the(Yb/Sm)N ratio ranges from 38.49 to 77.15,which are similar to the characteristics of mantle-derived magmatic zircon.In the La/Yb-δEu correlation diagram,the data plots near the boundary between crust type and crust-mantle type.From the combined‘trinity’spatiotemporal relationship of Indosinian intermediate-acid alkali intrusive rocks in the Panxi area with E’meishan basalt and basic-ultrabasic intrusive rocks,the regional tectonic evolution and the partial melting model of the most intraplate magma sources,we believe that the Luku alkali syenite in Sichuan was formed from the partial melting of a crust-mantle source material,due to underplating of the mantle plume basic magma.

Reduction behavior and mechanism of Hongge vanadium titanomagnetite pellets by gas mixture of H2 and CO

Hongge vanadium titanomagnetite（HVTM）pellets were reduced by H2-CO gas mixture for simulating the reduction processes of Midrex and HYL-III shaft furnaces.The influences of reduction temperature,ratio ofφ（H2）toφ（CO）,and pellet size on the reduction of HVTM pellets were evaluated in detail and the reduction reaction kinetics was investigated.The results show that both the reduction degree and reduction rate can be improved with increasing the reduction temperature and the H2 content as well as decreasing the pellet size.The rational reduction parameters are reduction temperature of 1050℃,ratio ofφ（H2）toφ（CO）of 2.5,and pellet diameter in the range of 8-11 mm.Under these conditions（pellet diameter of 11mm）,final reduction degree of 95.51% is achieved.The X-ray diffraction（XRD）pattern shows that the main phases of final reduced pellets under these conditions（pellet diameter of 11 mm）are reduced iron and rutile.The peak intensity of reduced iron increases obviously with the increase in the reduction temperature.Besides,relatively high reduction temperature promotes the migration and coarsening of metallic iron particles and improves the distribution of vanadium and chromium in the reduced iron,which is conducive to subsequent melting separation.At the early stage,the reduction process is controlled by interfacial chemical reaction and the apparent activation energy is 60.78kJ/mol.The reduction process is controlled by both interfacial chemical reaction and internal diffusion at the final stage,and the apparent activation energy is 30.54kJ/mol.