Exploration and development of apatite & ilmenite: the Sept-Iles project of Norsk-Hydro/SOQUEM.

SOQUEM and Norsk Hydro have defined a deposit of apatite, ilmenite and magnetite within the Sept-Iles layered mafic complex, Quebec. Marketable concentrates of apatite and ilmenite have been prepared in pilot plant tests. The apatite concentrate grades 40% P2O5; the ilmenite concentrate 47% TiO2. Apatite is used in the production of NPK-type fertilizers; the ilmenite is a sulphatable grade feedstock for the TiO2 pigment industry. A titanomagnetite concentrate of density 4.7 g/cm3 and grading 81.6% Fe2O3 has also been prepared. This product could be marketed as heavy media for mineral separation. Waste gabbro could be sold as aggregate. Other potential commodities are vanadium from the titanomagnetite and olivine. A probable reserve of 108 000 000 t at an average grade of 6.2% P2O5 and 8.4% TiO2 has been identified. The waste:ore ratio is 1.13:1. The capital costs for mine and mill total Can
SOQUEM and Norsk Hydro have defined a deposit of apatite, ilmenite and magnetite within the Sept-Iles layered mafic complex, Quebec. Marketable concentrates of apatite and ilmenite have been prepared in pilot plant tests. The apatite concentrate grades 40% P2O5; the ilmenite concentrate 47% TiO2. Apatite is used in the production of NPK-type fertilizers; the ilmenite is a sulphatable grade feedstock for the TiO2 pigment industry. A titanomagnetite concentrate of density 4.7 g/cm3 and grading 81.6% Fe2O3 has also been prepared. This product could be marketed as heavy media for mineral separation. Waste gabbro could be sold as aggregate. Other potential commodities are vanadium from the titanomagnetite and olivine. A probable reserve of 108 000 000 t at an average grade of 6.2% P2O5 and 8.4% TiO2 has been identified. The waste:ore ratio is 1.13:1. The capital costs for mine and mill total Can