A feasibility study of ferrochromium extraction from Bird River concentrates in a submerged-arc furnace

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 79, No. 893, 1986

W. DRESLER, School of Engineering, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario

A major Canadian chromite deposit at Bird River, Manitoba is one of the largest known chromite reserves in North America but it exhibits low chromium contents and low chromium to iron ratios. Commercial beneficiation techniques permit these ores to be upgraded to concentrations which, however, remain inferior to most other ores and concentrates used worldwide for production of high-carbon ferrochromium. Analyses for reduction of low-grade concentrates by submerged-arc electrofurnace techniques predict chromium contents between 45.9% and 51% for a high-carbon ferrochromium alloy. Relatively high over-all chromium recoveries between 79.5% and 91.1% can be achieved. Alloy compositions for Cr, Fe, C and Si are determined for various burdens with low-grade concentrates. Consumption data per ton contained chromium are obtained for electric power, coke, concentrate, quartzite and limestone. The data are compared with those of high-carbon ferrochromium producers in South Africa. Economic aspects are discussed and compared with a South African reference study.

Keywords: Metallurgy, Chromites, Ferrochromium extraction, Submerged-arc furnace reduction, Beneficiation, Smelting, Agglomeration, Bird River deposits, Steel industry, Cost comparison.