Association of calcium ferrites in iron ore sinter with aenigmatites

This study concentrates on the chemical and mineral characterisation of calcium ferrites found in industrial iron ore sinters. First, electron probe microanalyses of the ferrites were performed and the results were compared with those found in the literature. An attempt was then made to associate the chemical composition found for the calcium ferrites with that of the aenigmatites. This choice results from the fact that the aenigmatites constitute a group of complex silicates found in nature, formed in conditions similar to those existing during the sintering of iron ores, and from the varied and complex nature of calcium ferrites found in iron ore sinters. The results showed good agreement between the chemical compositions of calcium ferrites and the aenigmatite formula X 2 Y 6 Z 6 O 20 .