Direct reduction and magnetic beneficiation of Alabama brown ore with lignite

Recent developments in the direct reduction of iron ore and recent growth in its application stimulated the investigation of direct lignite reduction of Alabama brown ore. Essentially complete reduction followed by sufficient agglomeration of the reduced iron was achieved so that grinding followed by magnetic separation appears feasible. The finely divided iron should be especially amenable to high gradient magnetic separation. Initial efforts with a crude electromagnet were promising, but reoxidation of the iron was a problem with the high gradient system.