Characterization of low grade PGE ores of Boula-Nuasahi Area, Odisha, India and implication on beneficiation

- PGE mineralization is confined to a narrow breccia zone in the Boula-Nuasahi area.
- PGE minerals are reported from three matrices such as chromite, sulfide and silicate.
- The average size of the PGE minerals is around 20 μ.
- PGE minerals show various textural dispositions viz. inclusions/exsolutions.
- The grade of mineralization requires pre-concentration/beneficiation.

The Boula area contains important PGE mineralization in India, confined to a narrow breccia zone. Ferrochromite and Base Metal Sulfides (BMS) are two important hosts for this mineralization. PGE minerals are very small in size and occur as inclusions/exsolutions in chromite and silicates and/or at the contact of chromite and silicates, as well as in BMS. The size of PGE minerals varies from < 1 μ to 50 μ and the grade of mineralization is around 1.877 ppm. Due to very low grade and diverse mineral associations coupled with very fine size, pre-concentration of PGE minerals is a very difficult and challenging task.