OREANDA-NEWS. June 16, 2014. Operators of matte production line of Kola MMC smelting plant started to use quartzite instead of silica sand as flux.

This rock contains up to 98% of silica dioxide, which is one third more than silica sand contains. The feed smelting process requires silica dioxide since it bounds iron oxides producing dump slag and basic smelting product – matte i.e. alloy of base metals sulphide.

Smelting plant of Kola MMC accommodates two ore thermal furnaces (OTF). The use of new flux boosted OTF output since the load of quartzite is 30% less than that of silica sand. The liberated capacities are used for nickel containing ores.

According to Alexey Krokhinov, deputy COO of smelting plant, the use of quartzite in technological chain guarantees a monthly average extra of 3 thousand ton of nickel containing feed. Alongside with the extra production, the economic yield is provided for by power saving.

In the nearest future, Kola MMC is planning to buy about 30 thousand ton of quartzite, amount to provide uninterrupted operation of the smelter with new kind of flux by the end of 2014.