Titaniferous magnetite deposits are a significant source of vanadium for use in high strength steel alloying and other chemical applications._x000D_
The mineralogy of the deposits varies markedly and the ore characteristics strongly influence the process route selected and the metallurgical outcomes._x000D_
Characterisation of the ores reveals the presence of magnetite, ilmenite and other minerals such as spinel hematite and goethite with variable degrees of weathering along with weathered products of host rock. The standard processing route is to crush, grind and magnetically recover a concentrate for salt roasting to produce a soluble vanadate._x000D_
Ore beneficiation is practised to generate an iron based mineral concentrate containing much of the vanadium with low silica levels of two per cent. Typical processing problems encountered are fine liberation size, over grinding of the magnetite and variable response to magnetic separation resulting from the weathering profile. Beneficiation options are restricted, and generally focused on producing a combined iron and titanium rich concentrate containing vanadium due to the fact that ilmenite and magnetite and their products of weathering are magnetic and have similar specific gravities making their separation difficult._x000D_
The ilmenite usually contains low levels of vanadium making its separation highly desirable from the iron mineralisation containing higher levels of vanadium._x000D_
Salt roasting of vanadium ores followed by water leaching has been the standard processing route for many years. The cost of suitable sodium salts, availability of capital and increasing energy costs and energy availability are critical factors in determining the viability of aspiring vanadium producers. To date, only Windimurra has acquired full capital funding, secured energy and sodium salt supplies at suitable cost that enable the construction of the project. Low overall recoveries of vanadium to concentrate roasting at up to 1200C are critical cost issues._x000D_
In this paper, factors influencing the recovery of vanadium are reviewed and emerging processing trends explored. The important features of the processing of titaniferous magnetites have been condensed from the literature, published works, company websites, our own work and personal communication._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Connelly, D, Reed, C and Palmer, R, 2008. Trends with titaniferous magnetite processing for vanadium extraction, in Proceedings MetPlant 2008, pp 419-432 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).