CHEMICAL EVALUATION, INFRARED SPECTRAL, THERMAL AND UPGRADATION STUDIES OF BATAKNALA, HAZARA (NWFP) PHOSPHATE

The present investigations were carried out on Bataknala (BKN) phospha te deposits in Hazara (NWFP). Chemical, infrared spectral and thermogr avimetric analyses showed these deposits to be of high-grade containin g P2O5 mineral content greater than 30%. However, because of the prese nce ch high content of undesirable impurities, especially magnesia (%M gO. = 2.03 +/- 0.15), the phosphate ore is not acceptable to NFC for p hosphate fertilizer production in the country. In the present study, e fforts have been made to upgrade BKN ore employing particle size reduc tion and flotation techniques. Details of these investigations alongwi th the results of chemical analyses, infrared spectral and thermogravi metric studies carried wt on the phosphate ore are described and discu ssed.