Thermal concentration of non-ferrous metal values in sulfide minerals

摘要

Ferruginous sulfide minerals containing non-ferrous metal values, such as nickel and cobalt are treated to concentrate the non-ferrous metal values in metallic iron. An intimate admixture of finely-divided non-ferrous-metal-bearing ferruginous sulfide minerals, iron oxide, and a suitable reducing agent is maintained at a temperature between about 800 DEG C. and 1000 DEG C. in an atmosphere non-oxidizing to iron to produce a metallic iron alloy containing the non-ferrous metal values from the sulfide minerals. The heated admixture is cooled and the concentrated non-ferrous metal values in the iron alloy are recovered by magnetic separation or hydrocloning.