Fluxed pellet production at Minntac: an overview

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 84, No. 950, 1991

Raymond D. Potts, USX Corporation, Minnesota Ore Operations, Mountain Iron, Minnesota

Minntac is a taconite mining, concentrating and pelletizing operation located near the town of Mountain Iron, Minnesota, U.S.A. It is totally owned and operated by USX Corporation and represents its largest source of domestic iron units. Minntac began producing fluxed pellets in 1988 and has produced both acid and fluxed pellets since then. This paper compares the acid and fluxed pellets produced at Minntac. It reviews modifications that have been made to the plant flowsheet and discusses areas recognized for improvement since the beginning of fluxed pellet production. It also comments briefly on the performance of Minntac fluxed pellets in USX blastfurnaces and the future of fluxed pellets at Minntac.

Keywords: Metallurgy, Taconite mining, Pelletizing operations, Fluxed pellets, Pellet production.