CHAPTER - 3 PHYSICAL AND PHYSICO - CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF IRON ORE AND AGGLOMERATES M.C. Goswami INTRODUCTION Performance of a blast furnace greatly depends on the quality of input raw materials, specifically the iron ore and its agglomerates, judged mainly through its reduction behaviour and strength property. Parameters like Reducibility Index (RI) and Reduction Degradation Index (RDI) are considered to be the important quality indicators for the selection of iron bearing material as blast furnace burden. The most commonly used iron ore is Hematite (Fe203 ) containing a maximum of 70% Fe. Others of less importance are Magnetite (Fe304; 72.4 % Fe, max.), Goethite (Fe20 3.H20; 60.3%Fe, max.), Limonite (2Fe2O3.3H20; 60% Fe, max.) and Siderite (FeCO3; 48.3% Fe, max.). Hematite Goethite Magnetite Limonite Fig. 3.1 : Raw iron ores ( Hematite, Magnetite, Goethite, Limoaite). P10-2007 27