XRD can be used for fast and accurate cluster analysis, phase identification and quantification of the minerals present in iron ore. The ore contains phases as hematite, goethite and magnetite as well as the gangue minerals gibbsite Al(OH)3, kaolinite Al2Si2O5(OH)4 and quartz SiO2. In addition, different XRD methods can distinguish between goethite with varying Al contents.
PANalytical offers hardware, software and expertise for the quantitative determination of bauxite phases using X-ray diffraction (XRD). All relevant parameters such as available alumina and reactive silica can be analyzed in only a fraction of the time required by traditional methods like wet chemistry. In addition XRD provides the unique possibility to determine the crystallite size/crystallinity of the present phases and the Al content of goethite which is important for subsequent processing of the Al ores. Average analysis times of less than 8 minutes offer the unique possibility to automate process control.
