Prabhash Gokarn gave a presentation on mineral beneficiation at a workshop in Sukinda, India. He began by discussing a famous 1980 bet between Julian Simon and Paul Ehrlich about resource scarcity. Simon bet commodity prices would decrease due to improved extraction methods, while Ehrlich predicted they would increase due to population growth - Simon won. Gokarn then discussed how beneficiation has benefited various minerals like chrome, manganese, iron ore, and coal by increasing production from lower grade deposits and reducing costs. He concluded that beneficiation has been a "game changer" that has allowed supply to keep up with growing demand despite limited resources.
Objective Capital Rare Earths, Speciality and Minor Metals Investment Summit
Overview of the chromite market – building
European supply
18 March 2010
by David Cliff, Empire Mining
Held after the markets close in Sydney and over lunch in Mlisten to presentations by ASX listed companies followed by complimentary networking drinks. These events provide attendees with one of Australia's best opportunities to network with high-level representatives from both the resources industry, and the finance and investment communities.
In the February 25, 2011, the Investor's Digest of Canada featured on its front page Commerce Resources Corp. and its rare metal / rare earth projects.
Objective Capital Rare Earths, Speciality and Minor Metals Investment Summit
Overview of the chromite market – building
European supply
18 March 2010
by David Cliff, Empire Mining
Held after the markets close in Sydney and over lunch in Mlisten to presentations by ASX listed companies followed by complimentary networking drinks. These events provide attendees with one of Australia's best opportunities to network with high-level representatives from both the resources industry, and the finance and investment communities.
In the February 25, 2011, the Investor's Digest of Canada featured on its front page Commerce Resources Corp. and its rare metal / rare earth projects.
Objective Capital Global Mining Investment Conference
Opening Keynote: Demand, supply and price of copper – an exploration perspective
30 Sep 2009
by Eric Finlayson, Rio Tinto
Glencore / Syrah Resources (graphite, vanadium) - Research Note Simon Moores
10 July 2014: A brief on Glencore and Syrah Resources (vanadium, graphite) following the rumours that Glencore is about to make an approach to purchase the exploration company.
http://www.spiderresources.com - In this presentation by Spider Resources Board of Directors member Dr. James Franklin, P.Geo. explains the importance of Chromite in today's world
Investor presentation delivered by MacPhersons Resources' Managing Director Morrie Goodz, at the Gold Investment Symposium held in Sydney, 8th and 9th October 2014
http://www.alphminresources.com
Alphamin is a Toronto Venture Exchange listed Tin explorer and developer. Our strategy is to locate next generation Tin assets and leverage our exploration and development expertise to create sustainable Tin production. Our primary focus is to realise the potential of "Project Bisie" a high grade Tin asset located in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Iron ore mining plays a critical role in supplying the raw material necessary for steel production, supporting various industries and economic development worldwide.
From the extraction of iron ore to its processing and eventual export, each stage of the mining process requires careful planning, technological advancements, and environmental considerations.
By adopting sustainable mining practices and mitigating environmental impacts, the future of iron ore mining can be aligned with the principles of responsible resource utilization and environmental stewardship
Objective Capital Global Mining Investment Conference
Opening Keynote: Demand, supply and price of copper – an exploration perspective
30 Sep 2009
by Eric Finlayson, Rio Tinto
Glencore / Syrah Resources (graphite, vanadium) - Research Note Simon Moores
10 July 2014: A brief on Glencore and Syrah Resources (vanadium, graphite) following the rumours that Glencore is about to make an approach to purchase the exploration company.
http://www.spiderresources.com - In this presentation by Spider Resources Board of Directors member Dr. James Franklin, P.Geo. explains the importance of Chromite in today's world
Investor presentation delivered by MacPhersons Resources' Managing Director Morrie Goodz, at the Gold Investment Symposium held in Sydney, 8th and 9th October 2014
http://www.alphminresources.com
Alphamin is a Toronto Venture Exchange listed Tin explorer and developer. Our strategy is to locate next generation Tin assets and leverage our exploration and development expertise to create sustainable Tin production. Our primary focus is to realise the potential of "Project Bisie" a high grade Tin asset located in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Iron ore mining plays a critical role in supplying the raw material necessary for steel production, supporting various industries and economic development worldwide.
From the extraction of iron ore to its processing and eventual export, each stage of the mining process requires careful planning, technological advancements, and environmental considerations.
By adopting sustainable mining practices and mitigating environmental impacts, the future of iron ore mining can be aligned with the principles of responsible resource utilization and environmental stewardship
Exploratory Data Analysis Example - Credit Risk Analysis (Second Attempt)PRABHASH GOKARN
An attempt to analyze Bank Data on loans and find patterns in the data that are predictors of loan defaults. This will ensure that future loan decisions are made more logically and reduce possible defaults. The analysis has been done using Python.
Magnetic Separation of Metallics from Ferrochrome SlagPRABHASH GOKARN
At a Ferroalloy Plant producing High Carbon Ferro Chrome, the slag co-produced is granulated. The separation between slag and metal is not perfect and the granulated slag contains ~1% to 3% of entrapped ferrochrome. Apart from being a loss of valuable Ferro Chrome, local miscreants climb the unstable slag heaps to manually recover and steal the carry over Ferro Chrome granules, which is both a security and safety risk. We have successfully implemented a magnetic separation method for the recovery of metallics from the slag.
60 not out - sixty successful years of continuous ferro alloy making at jodaPRABHASH GOKARN
On 20th April 2018, Tata Steel’s Ferro Alloy Plant at Joda turned sixty. It is India’s oldest continuously operating ferroalloy plant, and one of the oldest continuously operating ferroalloy plants in the world. The Ferro Alloy sector globally, and especially in India, is notoriously short-lived for reasons detailed in the paper. It also elaborates the reasons for the longetivity of FAP Joda.
On 20th April 2018, Tata Steel’s Ferro Alloy Plant at Joda turned sixty. It is India’s oldest continuously operating ferroalloy plant, and one of the oldest continuously operating ferroalloy plants in the world. The plant was set up as a wholly owned subsidiary(Joda Ferro Alloy Pvt Ltd). It was the first assignment of M/s M N Dastur and completed eight months ahead of schedule. This is a booklet published by M/s MN Dastur on the occasion.
SEWAGE AND ITS TREATMENT - Experience from setting up Sewage Treatment Plants PRABHASH GOKARN
Growing population has resulted in a steep increase in demand for freshwater coupled with increased contamination from untreated wastewater. Along with steps taken to clean our polluted rivers and streams, laws for disposal of wastewater are becoming stricter, resulting in an urgent need for setting up facilities for treatment of sewage. There are several treatment options, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Drawing from our experience in setting up and running sewage treatment plants across various locations involving multiple technologies, this paper discusses the major technologies for sewage treatment.
Sewage and its treatment - experience from setting up STPs PRABHASH GOKARN
Growing population has resulted in a steep increase in demand for fresh water coupled with increased contamination from untreated waste water. Along with steps taken to clean our polluted rivers and streams, laws for disposal of waste water are becoming stricter, resulting in an urgent need for setting up facilities for treatment of sewage. There are several treatment options, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Drawing from our experience in setting up and running sewage treatment plants across various locations involving multiple technologies, this paper describes most of the popular technologies adopted for sewage treatment and the possible reasons for their selection.
Pre – fabricated buildings in mining - an environment friendly alternativePRABHASH GOKARN
Pre-fabricated buildings (or simply, pre-fabs), are buildings that are manufactured off-site in advance, usually in standard sections that can be easily shipped, and are assembled at site. There are many advantages of Pre-Fabricated buildings which make it especially suited to Mining Locations. With the improvement in the materials used in making pre-fab buildings, the rising cost of labour, safety & quality concerns, and environmental concerns of construction waste disposal; pre-fab buildings are poised to increase in popularity. This article discusses the experience in making a pre-fabricated office building at a mining location.
Safety Challenges in the Construction of a Large Water Recovery PlantPRABHASH GOKARN
The Ferro Alloy Plant at Joda was commissioned in 1958 and is in continuous operation since. It currently produces 50,000 MTPA of HC Ferro Manganese in two Submerged Arc Furnaces.
Gas Cleaning Plant (GCP) slurry generated in wet venture scrubbers is collected in slurry pits inside the plant for drying and subsequent disposal. Because of space constraints, and in order to recycle the water used in the wet venture scrubbers, Tata Steel is upgrading its GCP slurry handling process by the installation of a GCP slurry dewatering plant.
Construction of large structures within an operating plant, without affecting operations is always a challenge. The job is even more challenging, since the plant is 58 years old, with many unmarked structures, pipes, and cables lying underneath.
This paper discusses how new and unexpected challenges are tackled during the construction of the Slurry Dewatering Plant without compromising on safe working.
Constructing on of India's largest single location Effluent Treatment PlantsPRABHASH GOKARN
Tata Steel operates one of the largest chromite mines in India at the Sukinda Valley in Odisha. The chrome ore produced is subsequently converted it to Ferro Chrome and sold to customers across the world, making Tata Steel one of the top ten Chrome players in the world. A large quantity of water, generated during mining and due to rainfall, needs to be handled during the mining operations. Chrome Ore mainly contains tri-valent chromium oxide and a very small fraction of hexavalent di-chromate. Water coming in contact with chromium ore preferentially leaches out soluble hexavalent chromium from the ore body, as a result, water from the mine contains 0.2 – 4 mg/l of hexavalent chromium against a safe limit of 0.05 mg/l for human consumption; requiring all water to be treated before its release from the mines. Thus, Tata Steel has set up an Effluent Treatment Plant at Sukinda with a capacity of ~108 million litres/day, the largest in the region, and possibly one of the largest single location ETPs in India. This paper discusses how the challenges faced during construction of this Effluent Treatment Plant were successfully tackled.
Brazil's Mining Tragedy : Lessons for the Mining IndustryPRABHASH GOKARN
The Brazilian mining tragedy was an eye-opener for the mining fraternity to introspect on the existing tailing management processes, identify gaps, complete hazard identification and risk assessments, and modify or develop safe operating procedures and emergency preparedness plans in line with the guidelines issued by Statutory Authorities from time to time. This is necessary to avert the occurrence of similar incidents in the future.
Presentation at the 9th WORLD AQUA CONGRESS on 26th-27th Nov 15PRABHASH GOKARN
Tata Steel operates chromite mines at the Sukinda Valley in Odisha producing chrome ore which is subsequently converted it to Ferro Chrome and sold to customers across the world. A large quantity of water, pumped out from the mining pit and due to rainfall, needs to be handled during the mining operations. Chrome Ore mainly contains tri-valent Chromic oxide and a very small fraction of hexavalent di-chromate. Water coming in contact with chromium ore preferentially leaches out soluble hexavalent chromium from the ore body, as a result, water from the mine contains 0.2 – 4 mg/l of hexavalent chromium against a safe limit of 0.005 mg/l for human consumption; requiring all water to be treated before its release from the mines. Thus, Tata Steel is setting up an additional state of art effluent treatment plant at Sukinda with a capacity of 108 million litres/day; one of the largest in the region; which will be completed by Sept 2015. This paper discusses how the technology for the Effluent Treatment Plant was chosen amongst various alternatives, how the capacity of the plant was decided, the challenges during construction of the said Effluent Treatment Plant that were faced, and how these were successfully tackled. The paper also describes how, because the outlet water is of a better quality than the water from the local water body, the outlet water will be used as the input to the Water Treatment Plant, aiding water consumption and lowering operating cost.
Improving Water Quality by Constructing an Effluent Treatment PlantPRABHASH GOKARN
Tata Steel operates chromite mines at the Sukinda Valley in Odisha producing chrome ore which is subsequently converted it to Ferro Chrome and sold to customers across the world. A large quantity of water, pumped out from the mining pit and due to rainfall, needs to be handled during the mining operations. Chrome Ore mainly contains tri-valent Chromic oxide and a very small fraction of hexavalent di-chromate. Water coming in contact with chromium ore preferentially leaches out soluble hexavalent chromium from the ore body, as a result, water from the mine contains 0.2 – 4 mg/l of hexavalent chromium against a safe limit of 0.005 mg/l for human consumption; requiring all water to be treated before its release from the mines. Thus, Tata Steel is setting up an additional state of art effluent treatment plant at Sukinda with a capacity of 108 million litres/day; one of the largest in the region; which will be completed by Sept 2015. This paper discusses how the technology for the Effluent Treatment Plant was chosen amongst various alternatives, how the capacity of the plant was decided, the challenges during construction of the said Effluent Treatment Plant that were faced, and how these were successfully tackled. The paper also describes how, because the outlet water is of a better quality than the water from the local water body, the outlet water will be used as the input to the Water Treatment Plant, aiding water consumption and lowering operating cost.
Project Management Challenges in an Effluent Treatment Plant Construction PRABHASH GOKARN
Tata Steel operates India’s largest chromite mines at the Sukinda Valley in Odisha producing chrome ore which is subsequently converted it to Ferro Chrome and sold to customers across the world. A large quantity of water, generated during mining and due to rainfall, needs to be handled during the mining operations. Chrome Ore mainly contains tri-valent Chromic oxide and a very small fraction of hexavalent di-chromate. Water coming in contact with chromium ore preferentially leaches out soluble hexavalent chromium from the ore body, as a result, water from the mine contains 0.2 – 4 mg/l of hexavalent chromium against a safe limit of 0.005 mg/l for human consumption; requiring all water to be treated before its release from the mines. Thus, Tata Steel is setting up an effluent plant at Sukinda with a capacity of 108 million litres/day; perhaps one of the largest in the region; which will be complete by end June 2015.
6th International Conference on Machine Learning & Applications (CMLA 2024)ClaraZara1
6th International Conference on Machine Learning & Applications (CMLA 2024) will provide an excellent international forum for sharing knowledge and results in theory, methodology and applications of on Machine Learning & Applications.
Hierarchical Digital Twin of a Naval Power SystemKerry Sado
A hierarchical digital twin of a Naval DC power system has been developed and experimentally verified. Similar to other state-of-the-art digital twins, this technology creates a digital replica of the physical system executed in real-time or faster, which can modify hardware controls. However, its advantage stems from distributing computational efforts by utilizing a hierarchical structure composed of lower-level digital twin blocks and a higher-level system digital twin. Each digital twin block is associated with a physical subsystem of the hardware and communicates with a singular system digital twin, which creates a system-level response. By extracting information from each level of the hierarchy, power system controls of the hardware were reconfigured autonomously. This hierarchical digital twin development offers several advantages over other digital twins, particularly in the field of naval power systems. The hierarchical structure allows for greater computational efficiency and scalability while the ability to autonomously reconfigure hardware controls offers increased flexibility and responsiveness. The hierarchical decomposition and models utilized were well aligned with the physical twin, as indicated by the maximum deviations between the developed digital twin hierarchy and the hardware.
Water billing management system project report.pdfKamal Acharya
Our project entitled “Water Billing Management System” aims is to generate Water bill with all the charges and penalty. Manual system that is employed is extremely laborious and quite inadequate. It only makes the process more difficult and hard.
The aim of our project is to develop a system that is meant to partially computerize the work performed in the Water Board like generating monthly Water bill, record of consuming unit of water, store record of the customer and previous unpaid record.
We used HTML/PHP as front end and MYSQL as back end for developing our project. HTML is primarily a visual design environment. We can create a android application by designing the form and that make up the user interface. Adding android application code to the form and the objects such as buttons and text boxes on them and adding any required support code in additional modular.
MySQL is free open source database that facilitates the effective management of the databases by connecting them to the software. It is a stable ,reliable and the powerful solution with the advanced features and advantages which are as follows: Data Security.MySQL is free open source database that facilitates the effective management of the databases by connecting them to the software.
We have compiled the most important slides from each speaker's presentation. This year’s compilation, available for free, captures the key insights and contributions shared during the DfMAy 2024 conference.
NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER IN CONDENSING HEAT EXCHANGERS...ssuser7dcef0
Power plants release a large amount of water vapor into the
atmosphere through the stack. The flue gas can be a potential
source for obtaining much needed cooling water for a power
plant. If a power plant could recover and reuse a portion of this
moisture, it could reduce its total cooling water intake
requirement. One of the most practical way to recover water
from flue gas is to use a condensing heat exchanger. The power
plant could also recover latent heat due to condensation as well
as sensible heat due to lowering the flue gas exit temperature.
Additionally, harmful acids released from the stack can be
reduced in a condensing heat exchanger by acid condensation. reduced in a condensing heat exchanger by acid condensation.
Condensation of vapors in flue gas is a complicated
phenomenon since heat and mass transfer of water vapor and
various acids simultaneously occur in the presence of noncondensable
gases such as nitrogen and oxygen. Design of a
condenser depends on the knowledge and understanding of the
heat and mass transfer processes. A computer program for
numerical simulations of water (H2O) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
condensation in a flue gas condensing heat exchanger was
developed using MATLAB. Governing equations based on
mass and energy balances for the system were derived to
predict variables such as flue gas exit temperature, cooling
water outlet temperature, mole fraction and condensation rates
of water and sulfuric acid vapors. The equations were solved
using an iterative solution technique with calculations of heat
and mass transfer coefficients and physical properties.
Literature Review Basics and Understanding Reference Management.pptxDr Ramhari Poudyal
Three-day training on academic research focuses on analytical tools at United Technical College, supported by the University Grant Commission, Nepal. 24-26 May 2024
KuberTENes Birthday Bash Guadalajara - K8sGPT first impressionsVictor Morales
K8sGPT is a tool that analyzes and diagnoses Kubernetes clusters. This presentation was used to share the requirements and dependencies to deploy K8sGPT in a local environment.
2. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Presentation Flow
1. Preamble 3
2. Introduction 4
3. How Markets Value Minerals 5
4. Beneficiation - a game changer ?
a. Chrome – a UG2 Concentrate Story 6
b. Manganese – desperate need for technology 7
c. Iron Ore 8
d. Coal 9
5. Conclusions 10
2
3. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Preamble
A famous bet :
Julian L. Simon, the economist, and Paul Ehrlich, the
environmentalist entered in a widely followed scientific wager in
1980, betting on a mutually agreed-upon measure of resource
scarcity over the decade leading up to 1990.
Simon and Ehrlich chose five commodity metals. Copper,
chromium, nickel, tin, & tungsten were chosen and Simon bet that
their prices would decrease, while Ehrlich bet they would increase.
Between 1980 and 1990, the world's population grew by more than
800 million, the largest increase in one decade in all of history.
Ehrlich lost the bet, as all five commodities that were bet on
declined in price from 1980 through 1990, the wager period.
3
Simon Ehrilch
4. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Introduction
Between 1980 & 1990 the price of three of the five metals went down
in nominal terms and all five of the metals fell in price in inflation-
adjusted terms.
Main reasons -
a) better methods of beneficiation & extraction increased the
resource base.
b) more effective usage
Case in point – Copper :
Better hydrometallurgical concentration, solvent extraction
techniques – threshold limit reduces to 0.6%
Electronic components use less copper than electrical equivalents.
Improvement in Mineral Beneficiation has widespread impact
4
5. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
How Markets Value Minerals
Demand & Supply should determine the price of minerals,
however, other factors seem more important :
Monopoly/Oligopoly :
○ Historic examples : Tin (Malaysia and Thailand),
Copper(Chile), Silver(Argentina)
○ In the cases stated above, no new major ore deposits
discovered, however, due to improvement in beneficiation
and extraction technologies, lower grade mineral deposits
have become economically viable.
Rare Earths & China, today…. Challenge to us mineral
engineers to make low grade RE deposits in India viable?
5
Better Concentration Techniques Changes the Value
Markets gives to Minerals, removes Oligopolies
6. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Beneficiation – a game changer ?
Chrome Ore :
UG2 – by-product of processing UG2 seam ores to
extract platinum with very low Cr:Fe ratio of 1.3:1
Not used by anyone except China, which has developed
processes to make Chrome Alloys from UG2
Concentrate.
Result :
China has become the leading producer (& consumer) of
ferrochrome in the world drop in Cr prices that is here
to stay.
6
Beneficiation has changed the game in Chrome Alloys
7. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Manganese Ore - desperate need for technology
India has large reserves of Manganese minerals:
○ Low grade : Mn content < 20% ~600-700 mn MT
○ High & Med grade : ~350-430 mn MT
but most are of low grade
Additionally, ores in Orissa region, including in Tata Steel’s
Joda Mn Mines, being ferruginous, have low Mn/Fe ratio
Many beneficiation processes have been discussed or
tested, challenge to us Mineral engineers is to urgently :
7
Beneficiation – a game changer ?
Commercially develop Beneficiation Processes
for low grade and low Mn/Fe Manganese Ores
8. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Iron Ore
All steel makers the world over, Tata Steel included,
have concentrated on developing beneficiation
technologies for :
Beneficiating low grade Fe ores – ores upto 40% Fe
being used in China compared to +63% a few years
ago
Reduction of alumina content of iron ore and use of
slimes
Beneficiation – a game changer ?
8
As a result of success of beneficiation, iron ore fines are
now valued higher than lumps – a game changer
9. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Coal
Coal beneficiation by washing almost universally adopted
for upgrading high ash coals
Improved beneficiation techniques coupled with advances
in coke making and increasing use of non coking coals
and alternate reducants has helped the world feed its
insatiable demand for reductants.
Beneficiation – a game changer ?
9
Success of coal beneficiation has helped mitigate the
shortage of good quality coal - a game changer
10. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Conclusions
Rising population and aspirations have led to increased
demand for ores from a limited mineral/coal base.
Successful beneficiation techniques have been game
changers across geographies and minerals.
As a result, despite limited resources, by and large,
production has kept pace with human aspirations.
We are but half way – limitless aspirations and limited
resources provide continuing challenges to us mineral
engineers in the field of beneficiation……
10
11. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAMPrabhashGokarn,HeadProjects,FAM
looking forward to you all to….
…throw more light on the subject
Thank You
prabhash@tatasteel.com
?
11
13. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Back Up – some details…
1. More about the Simon – Ehrlich Bet 14
2. Chrome – a UG2 Concentrate Story 15
3. Manganese – desperate need for technology 22
4. Iron Ore & Coal 26
13
15. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Between 1980 and 1990, the world's population grew by more than
800 million, the largest increase in one decade in all of history.
But by September 1990, the price of each of Ehrlich's selected metals
had fallen.
Chromium, which had sold for $3.90 a pound in 1980, was down to
$3.70 in 1990. Tin, which was $8.72 a pound in 1980, was down to
$3.88 a decade later.
Julian Simon won because the price of three of the five metals went
down in nominal terms and all five of the metals fell in price in
inflation-adjusted terms, with both tin and tungsten falling by more
than half.
Ehrlich insisted that commodities would become more expensive: they
were running out in the face of the population explosion.
More about the Simon – Ehrlich Bet
15
16. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Simon asserted : more people meant more brains meant better methods of
extraction and lower usage per unit of production. Thus prices should fall. Sure,
thereareperiodswherethe alarmistswouldwin,butthe generalmove overtime
favoursthecornucopians.
Simon said : technology would advance and new stocks of materials would be
exploitable.Thiswouldhappenfasterthandemandwouldleadingtofallsinprices.
In Copper, SX-EW (solvent extraction & electro-winning) opened up the entire
planettoanotherwaveofcopperexploration.Before1980,wemadecopperfrom
copper sulfides.If we found amountain of copper oxide thenthat’swhatitstayed
at, copper oxide. Copper oxide wasn’t copper ore, it was simply dirt, for we didn’t
knowhowtoextractthecopperfromit.
More about the Simon – Ehrlich Bet
16
17. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
SX-EW changed that: it’s a process to extract copper from copper oxide. Thus all
those mountains of copper oxide out there (and there are many, quite literally,
mountains of copper oxide) became copper ore instead of dirt. Thus the price
declined.
We do discover new mineral resources, we do develop new beneficiation &
extractiontechnologies,whichmakelargeramountsofmineralresourcesavailable
tous.
There are other events that happen, certainly, which push prices up for periods of
time.
Butthelongtermtrendformetalsatleastisdownwards.
More about the Simon – Ehrlich Bet
17
18. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Counter argument of the Simon Ehrlich Bet
Prices of all five metals (chromium, copper, nickel, tin, and
tungsten) had gone up between 1950 and 1975.
But the prices of three of the five went down in the 1980s, in
part because a recession in the first half of that decade
slowed the growth of demand for industrial metals worldwide.
Ironically, a prominent reason for the slower industrial growth
was the doubling of world oil prices in 1979.
Indeed, the price of oil probably was a factor in the prices of
metals in both years, being unprecedentedly high in 1980 and
unprecedentedly low in 1990
18
20. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Chrome – a UG2 Concentrate Story
UG2 is attractive to Chinese processors as its can only be
used in small open furnaces (furnaces in SA & Khaz are
closed furnaces).
Also, due to higher dust generation on using fine UG2,
producers find it difficult to comply with pollution norms
using UG2 – not a problem for Chinese manufacturers (for
obvious reasons).
This has caused a dramatic shift in ferrochrome production
moving away from South Africa to China.
20
21. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
UG-2 Chromite Production Trends
Steep increase in UG2 production in recent years has
already made it the largest source of Chrome.
Source : ICDA Statistical Report : Chromium in 2013, Jan 2014
21
22. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
….allowing China to become the top
ferrochrome producer….
China’sincreasingCrOre&reducingFeCr
imports. Source ICDA, Oman Dec 2013
22
23. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
… and the top chrome ore importer….
Source ICDA, Oman Dec 2013
23
24. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Causing a Decline in Ferrochrome
Prices adjusted for inflation..
Source Cramer, Basson, Nelson, Impact of Pt production from UG2 ore on chrome,
24
26. Prabhash Gokarn, Head Projects, FAM
Manganese Ore Beneficiation -
Technologies considered, inconclusively
Beneficiation of Low Grade Mn Ores :
RADOS – Radiometric Mn Ore Sorting
Magnetic Separation of ore & gangue
Wet gravity beneficiation
Improving the Mn/Fe ratio
Magnetic Separation of Fe post reduction roasting
Through Blast Furnace reduction : MnO slag
Sponge Iron route - partial reduction of Fe followed by
Magnetic Separation
26