Characterization of Oolitic Iron Ore from Gara Djebilet, Algeria: Mineralogy, Chemistry, Morphology, and Thermal Properties

Abstract

The iron ore deposits of Gara Djebilet, located in the Tindouf region of Algeria, hold significant socio-economic importance among the indigenous iron ore deposits discovered in the country. To meet local steel production requirements, these ores require an effective enrichment process, necessitating detailed mineralogical, chemical, and morphological characterization. Techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry-thermogravimetric analysis (DSC-TG) were employed for this purpose.Mineralogical studies revealed that Gara Djebilet iron ore is primarily composed of hematite and goethite. XRF analysis indicated a composition of 61.95% Fe, 4.27% SiO₂, 2.22% CaO, 4.72% Al₂O₃, and 1.53% P₂O₅. The data from various analyses suggest that phosphorus is finely disseminated within the hematite phase, indicating that Gara Djebilet iron ore may not be amenable to upgrading using conventional techniques.