Chromite Ore Beneficiation Plants
Optimise chromite ore for maximum efficiency in ferrochrome production, from feed preparation to zero-tailings water management.
Chromite ore beneficiation prepares and concentrates chromite for ferrochrome production, an alloy of 50–70% chromium used in stainless steel. The circuit combines feed preparation (crushing, screening, grinding) with concentration via hydrocyclones and spirals, plus Scrubmax logwashers for clay-contaminated ores and filter presses for zero-tailings operation.
Why chromite quality matters
Chromite ore is predominantly used to produce ferrochrome, an alloy of chrome and iron containing between 50% and 70% chromium. Steel production is the largest consumer of ferrochrome, especially stainless steel, which contains between 10% and 20% ferrochrome. The cleaner and better calibrated your chromite feed, the more efficient every downstream tonne of alloy.
The two stages of chromite processing
Chromite ore processing divides into two areas:
- Feed preparation: physical separation equipment including crushers, screens and grinding mills, whose principal function is size reduction ready for concentration
- Concentration: hydrocyclone technology and spirals produce the chrome concentrate from which the final product is derived, with process wastewater reporting to tailings, where an additional filtration stage may be employed
CFlo equipment for chromite ore
- Screening: CFlo screens classify chromite ore in preparation for the further stages of processing
- Hydrocyclones: remove unwanted fines from chromite ore before material is stacked ahead of the heap leaching process
- Scrubmax logwashers: our heavy-duty scrubbing system for chromite ore with clay contamination; the logwasher's scrubbing action breaks down and removes clays, bringing efficiency to every downstream process
- Tailings management: a customised filter press supports the move to zero tailings, reducing waste and significantly cutting health and safety risks on site
Oremax, proven with Vedanta FACOR
The Oremax modular wet processing range is CFlo's platform for chromite beneficiation, operating in the field at Vedanta FACOR and documented in a published case study. As a Next-Gen 'Super' System it is Super modular for fast deployment at the mine, Super smart with process control that holds concentrate quality while reducing water and power, and Super easy with app-guided installation and service.
Frequently asked questions
What is chromite ore used for?
Chromite is the ore of chromium and is predominantly used to make ferrochrome, an alloy of chrome and iron containing 50–70% chromium. Steel production is the largest consumer, above all stainless steel, which contains between 10% and 20% ferrochrome, so chromite quality flows straight into alloy economics.
How is chromite ore concentrated?
After feed preparation, crushing, screening and grinding for size reduction, the concentration phase uses hydrocyclone technology and spirals to produce chrome concentrate. Wastewater from the process reports to tailings, where a filtration stage such as a filter press can be added to recover water and eliminate ponds.
How do you deal with clay in chromite ore?
With heavy-duty scrubbing. CFlo's Scrubmax logwasher breaks down and removes clay contamination from chromite ore through its paddle scrubbing action. Removing clay early introduces efficiencies to every downstream process, from hydrocyclones and spirals through to heap leaching and final concentrate quality.
Can a chromite plant run with zero tailings?
The move to zero tailings is facilitated by a customised filter press in the tailings circuit. It dewaters process waste, reduces the volume needing disposal and eliminates tailings ponds, which also delivers a significant reduction in health and safety risks on site.
Why remove fines before heap leaching?
Unwanted fines interfere with the heap leaching process. CFlo hydrocyclones remove these fines from the chromite ore before the material is stacked, so the leach performs as designed and the value in the ore is recovered rather than blinded off by fine material.
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