Mineral resources are non-renewable. Every effort should be made to mine both high-and low-grade ores and utilise those precious resources fully, scientists and mineral experts who participated at a recently held three-day symposium here recommended.
“At every mine site, the low-grade ores and minerals, which are many times more than the high-grade ones, have to be upgraded and the wastes should be utilised for backfilling the mined areas or other purposes,” they said.
The symposium on “Advances on Environment Friendly Technology in Mineral Processing and Metal Extraction” was organised by Institute of Advance Technology & Environmental Studies (IATES) and attended over 50 scientists from various parts of the country and abroad.
The symposium was chaired by Padma Shri Dr P.K. Jena, former director-general, CSIR, and chairman of IATES.
The scientists maintained that during mining, particularly in case of iron, manganese and chromium ores, a large amount of both high- and low-grade fines are generated. Technology to upgrade and agglomerate these is available indigenously. Therefore, all such ore fines, instead of being exported to other countries at throwaway prices, should be agglomerated for use in the domestic industries or can be exported with a much higher value.”
Another recommendation said research and development (R&D) efforts should be made to develop techno-economically viable processes to recover metals values from the rejects, such as slags, residues, tailing and slimes, for ultimate commercialisation.
“The best available technology has to be used in mining, mineral processing and metal extraction to minimise the release of wastes and effluents to the environment,” the recommendation pointed out.
Development in production of high-valued ferro-alloys like ferro-nickel, ferro-vanadium, ferro-titanium should be encouraged to meet the domestic requirement of the country.
During deliberations, the scientists said development of direct reduced iron (DRI) and sponge iron industries in India should be encouraged, keeping in view the availability of large resources of iron ore fines and non-coking coal.
“Efforts should be made to develop techno-economically viable processes to extract alumina from fly ash which can be used as the raw material in aluminium industry. This would make fly ash as a useful byproduct,” they suggested.