Potential Indonesia Ores as Raw Material for Producing Iron Nugget

Abstract

Indonesia due its archipelago has so many kinds of rocks which contain ores. With the finding in technology iron source is not iron ore alone like it use to be in the past. This research is conducted to see availability of mineral rocks in Indonesia as iron source. Four different kinds of mineral rocks are used. They are: limonite, saprolite, malachite, and chalcopyrite. Separation of limonite is done by magnetic separation process while saprolite, malachite, and chalcopyrite are done by washing separation methods. Analysis on Fe content is done at origin and roasting condition for all rocks. The results show that other mineral rocks can become iron source, separation will enhance Fe content, and lateritic nickel rocks especially limonite can be new other iron source.