Quality of Iron ores in Kenya; TharakaNithi and Samia

Authors

  • Alvin Kiprono Bett
  • Joan A. Onyango
  • S. M. Maranga
  • B. K. Rop

Keywords:

iron ore, grade, gangue, ilmenite

Abstract

Iron ores have been identified in various parts of the country. These regions include Eastern region, Tharaka-Nithi County,  and Western/Nyanza region,BusiaCounty. Kenya has had various challenges in the iron and steel sectors which include unavailability of data on iron ore.This paper focuses on chemical analysis of iron (Fe) ores.Chemical analysis was carried out at the Ministry of Mining at Mines and Geology Department Laboratories using XRFmachine. The iron ore sampled had Fe2O3 composition ranging from 41-57% for the ores from Marimante and 18-25% for Samia samples. It was found that the common gangue in the ores from both sites were silica and alumina with traces of other elements. The Marimanteore was found to beilmenite.

Author Biographies

Alvin Kiprono Bett

Department of Mining Materials and Petroleum Engineering, JKUAT

Joan A. Onyango

Department of Mining Materials and Petroleum Engineering

S. M. Maranga

Department of Mechanical Engineering, JKUAT

B. K. Rop

Department of Mining Materials and Petroleum Engineering, JKUAT

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Published

04-04-2022