TREATMENT OF COBALT-RICH FERROMANGANESE ORE

Cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust and nodule ores from seamount areas require effective mineral processing to eliminate the substrate or nuclei rocks before smelting. This study aims to review various separation techniques including jig separation, air table treatment for coarse fractions, and flotation coupled with hybrid jigging for fine fractions of the ore. The methodologies employed effectively removed the unwanted substrate/nuclei from cobalt-rich ferromanganese oxide components. Additionally, the paper discusses the mineralogical properties of these ores and the metallurgical treatment methods applied, including the hydrometallurgical treatment of low-grade ore. The findings indicate that these processing techniques can significantly enhance the recovery of valuable metals by isolating the cobalt-rich components from the less desirable material, thus allowing for a more efficient and economically viable extraction process, contributing to the understanding of cobalt-rich ferromanganese nodules as an untapped resource in the mining industry. This research highlights the potential of these ores and the critical need for innovative processing techniques to utilize them effectively.