Ore concentrate, dressed ore or simply concentrate is the product generally produced by
metal ore mines. The raw ore is usually ground finely in various
comminution operations and
gangue (waste) is removed, thus concentrating the metal component. The concentrate is then transported to various physical or chemical processes called
hydrometallurgy,
pyrometallurgy smelters, and
electrometallurgy where it is used to produce useful metals.
Ore concentrates are classified as a hazardous cargo for
shipping by the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, which is part of the
SOLAS Convention
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international maritime treaty that sets minimum safety standards in the construction, equipment and operation of merchant ships. The International Maritime Organization ...
, due to their tendency under certain conditions, to liquefy, which may affect the stability of the ship due to the
free surface effect potentially causing a ship to
capsize. Special measures are required by the code in order to safely transport concentrates.
See also
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References
Mining
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