The activities related to the development and utilization of New Zealand ironsands are briefly reviewed. The various ironsands operations around the country and their different modes of concentration are described to define the objective of this project.
This research project investigated the viability of simultaneously exploiting the specific gravity and magnetic property of magnetic minerals to produce high grade magnetic concentrates using magnetic hydrocyclones. The performance of hydrocyclones on ground magnetic and non magnetic samples under the influence of magnetic forces produced from external and internal magnetic poles were studied.
External magnetic poles were proved effective in increasing magnetic recovery to the underflow while results produced by internal magnetic pole were less encouraging. The possibility of using magnetic hydrocyclones with higher d50 of separation for the beneficiation of New Zealand ironsands is envisaged.
