A groundbreaking geometallurgical reevaluation of a complex Iron-Titanium-Vanadium-Manganese (Fe-Ti-V-Mn) oxide mineralization located in the Gambella-Dembidollo region of Western Ethiopia has been carried out through this research. The research is substantiated by comprehensive archival mineralogical and geochemical data from a primary technical work done by Stern Lapajne (1985). The principal mineral resource assemblage which consists of iron (Fe2O3), iron (Fe3O4), and titanium (FeTiO3) has a close relationship with manganese (Mn3O4) that is very difficult to process and that was the major reason of its earlier classification as sub-economic. This research presents four geometallurgical constraints that stem from the mineralogy: (1) the fine-grained, solid-solution texture of ilmenite within haematite, which makes titanium liberation difficult; (2) the complete incorporation of vanadium within the magnetite crystal lattice, hence its recovery being dependent on magnetic separation efficiency; (3) the complicated association of the manganese-rich phase (hausmannite) with the iron oxide fraction; and (4) the overall low grade of the mineral deposit, which necessitates the implementation of an efficient pre-concentration scheme to secure the project’s economic feasibility. A predictive processing flowsheet is built upon these constraining factors, along with a multi-stage recovery process. The process starts with Low-Intensity Magnetic Separation (LIMS) to capture the V-bearing magnetite, and then the non-magnetic fraction is subject to an intensive liberation step with ultrafine grinding. The next step is to use High-Intensity Magnetic Separation (HIMS) or differential flotation to get ready-to-sell ilmenite and hausmannite concentrates. The analysis done in the study brings to light that despite the deposit being intermittent and complex in mineralogy, such a geometallurgy-enabled, sequential recovery process could make the metal yield of multiple elements the highest possible. The research presents a useful model for evaluation of such complicated oxide systems worldwide, and it clearly shows that the combination of mineralogical and process analysis can be a powerful tool in making a profit out of difficult mineral resources.
| Published in | Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (Volume 10, Issue 4) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.jeece.20251004.11 |
| Page(s) | 99-107 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Geometallurgy, Mineral Processing, Vanadium Recovery, Ilmenite, Hausmannite, Magnetic Separation, Flotation, Ethiopia
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APA Style
Mekonen, G., Tesfaye, W. (2025). Geometallurgical Modeling of Complex Fe-Ti-V-Mn Oxide Mineralization: A Processing Strategy for the Gambella-Dembidollo Deposit, Western Ethiopia. Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, 10(4), 99-107. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20251004.11
ACS Style
Mekonen, G.; Tesfaye, W. Geometallurgical Modeling of Complex Fe-Ti-V-Mn Oxide Mineralization: A Processing Strategy for the Gambella-Dembidollo Deposit, Western Ethiopia. J. Energy Environ. Chem. Eng. 2025, 10(4), 99-107. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20251004.11
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Download@article{10.11648/j.jeece.20251004.11,
author = {Gutema Mekonen and Wakjira Tesfaye},
title = {Geometallurgical Modeling of Complex Fe-Ti-V-Mn Oxide Mineralization: A Processing Strategy for the Gambella-Dembidollo Deposit, Western Ethiopia
},
journal = {Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering},
volume = {10},
number = {4},
pages = {99-107},
doi = {10.11648/j.jeece.20251004.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20251004.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jeece.20251004.11},
abstract = {A groundbreaking geometallurgical reevaluation of a complex Iron-Titanium-Vanadium-Manganese (Fe-Ti-V-Mn) oxide mineralization located in the Gambella-Dembidollo region of Western Ethiopia has been carried out through this research. The research is substantiated by comprehensive archival mineralogical and geochemical data from a primary technical work done by Stern Lapajne (1985). The principal mineral resource assemblage which consists of iron (Fe2O3), iron (Fe3O4), and titanium (FeTiO3) has a close relationship with manganese (Mn3O4) that is very difficult to process and that was the major reason of its earlier classification as sub-economic. This research presents four geometallurgical constraints that stem from the mineralogy: (1) the fine-grained, solid-solution texture of ilmenite within haematite, which makes titanium liberation difficult; (2) the complete incorporation of vanadium within the magnetite crystal lattice, hence its recovery being dependent on magnetic separation efficiency; (3) the complicated association of the manganese-rich phase (hausmannite) with the iron oxide fraction; and (4) the overall low grade of the mineral deposit, which necessitates the implementation of an efficient pre-concentration scheme to secure the project’s economic feasibility. A predictive processing flowsheet is built upon these constraining factors, along with a multi-stage recovery process. The process starts with Low-Intensity Magnetic Separation (LIMS) to capture the V-bearing magnetite, and then the non-magnetic fraction is subject to an intensive liberation step with ultrafine grinding. The next step is to use High-Intensity Magnetic Separation (HIMS) or differential flotation to get ready-to-sell ilmenite and hausmannite concentrates. The analysis done in the study brings to light that despite the deposit being intermittent and complex in mineralogy, such a geometallurgy-enabled, sequential recovery process could make the metal yield of multiple elements the highest possible. The research presents a useful model for evaluation of such complicated oxide systems worldwide, and it clearly shows that the combination of mineralogical and process analysis can be a powerful tool in making a profit out of difficult mineral resources.
},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Geometallurgical Modeling of Complex Fe-Ti-V-Mn Oxide Mineralization: A Processing Strategy for the Gambella-Dembidollo Deposit, Western Ethiopia AU - Gutema Mekonen AU - Wakjira Tesfaye Y1 - 2025/12/03 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20251004.11 DO - 10.11648/j.jeece.20251004.11 T2 - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering JF - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering JO - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering SP - 99 EP - 107 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2637-434X UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20251004.11 AB - A groundbreaking geometallurgical reevaluation of a complex Iron-Titanium-Vanadium-Manganese (Fe-Ti-V-Mn) oxide mineralization located in the Gambella-Dembidollo region of Western Ethiopia has been carried out through this research. The research is substantiated by comprehensive archival mineralogical and geochemical data from a primary technical work done by Stern Lapajne (1985). The principal mineral resource assemblage which consists of iron (Fe2O3), iron (Fe3O4), and titanium (FeTiO3) has a close relationship with manganese (Mn3O4) that is very difficult to process and that was the major reason of its earlier classification as sub-economic. This research presents four geometallurgical constraints that stem from the mineralogy: (1) the fine-grained, solid-solution texture of ilmenite within haematite, which makes titanium liberation difficult; (2) the complete incorporation of vanadium within the magnetite crystal lattice, hence its recovery being dependent on magnetic separation efficiency; (3) the complicated association of the manganese-rich phase (hausmannite) with the iron oxide fraction; and (4) the overall low grade of the mineral deposit, which necessitates the implementation of an efficient pre-concentration scheme to secure the project’s economic feasibility. A predictive processing flowsheet is built upon these constraining factors, along with a multi-stage recovery process. The process starts with Low-Intensity Magnetic Separation (LIMS) to capture the V-bearing magnetite, and then the non-magnetic fraction is subject to an intensive liberation step with ultrafine grinding. The next step is to use High-Intensity Magnetic Separation (HIMS) or differential flotation to get ready-to-sell ilmenite and hausmannite concentrates. The analysis done in the study brings to light that despite the deposit being intermittent and complex in mineralogy, such a geometallurgy-enabled, sequential recovery process could make the metal yield of multiple elements the highest possible. The research presents a useful model for evaluation of such complicated oxide systems worldwide, and it clearly shows that the combination of mineralogical and process analysis can be a powerful tool in making a profit out of difficult mineral resources. VL - 10 IS - 4 ER -
Fertilizer and Other Chemical Input Research Department, Mineral Industry Development Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fertilizer and Other Chemical Input Research Department, Mineral Industry Development Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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