Process for treatment of lateritic ores

摘要

Recovery, by thermal upgrading, of nickel values from nickeliferous lateritic ores containing a silicate fraction is improved by forming agglomerates of the ore, a reagent containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkali or alkaline earth metal compounds in a small but effective amount to increase nickel recovery from the silicate fraction and a liquid hydrocarbon in an amount between about 1 and 12%, based on the weight of the ore and heating a static, shallow bed of the agglomerates established on a moving bed to partially melt the agglomerates to reduce and coalesce the nickel values into easily recoverable ferronickel concentrate. The grade of the ferronickel concentrate can be increased by incorporating a sulfur-bearing material in the agglomerates.