PHOSPHATE ROCK

El Nasr Mining Co. has been mining and supplying phosphate rock to the domestic market since 1960.

In 1996 large new reserve of high-grade phosphate with run of mines (R.O.M) P2O5 29%+ were discovered, which after processing yield final product of P2O5 upto 32%+. These finds enabled El Nasr Mining to explore overseas markets for exports.

Exports of El Nasr phosphate rock started in 1997. initial exports were mainly for SSP production and Direct / Straight applications.

Pilot plant studies conducted by Hydro Fertilizer Technology B.V., Belgium in 2001 established the suitability of El Nasr phosphate for manufacture of phosphoric acid.


Mines Information

NAME OF PHOSPHATE ROCK :

  • UPPER CRETACEOUS PHOSPHATE.

GEOLOGY :

  • SEDIMENTARY PHOSPHATE ROCK WITH UPPER CRETACEOUS WITH SOME FAMOUS FOSSILS AND SHARK TEETH, SOME BONES OF LARGE VERTEBRATE WITH HORIZONTAL BEDS LYING UNDER OYSTER LIMESTONE AND MARTS BED AND THE TOP OF SERIES IS DHAKLA SHALE AND BASE OF THE SERIES IS VARIEGATED SHALE.

ORIGIN :

  • EAST SABAIYA MINES : EAST BANK OF RIVER NILE ABOUT 15 KM NORTH OF EDFO BETWEEN LUXOR AND ASWAN .
  • WEST SABAIYA MINES : WEST BANK OF RIVER NILE ABOUT 15 KM NORTH OF EDFO BETWEEN LUXOR AND ASWAN .
  • RED SEA MINES : HAMERAWEIN AREA ABOUT 15 KM NORTH OF EL QUSIER ON THE RED SEA COAST

RESERVE (MILLION MT) :

 

EAST SABAIYA

(MAIN MINES)

(36 Sq. KM )

WEST SABAIYA

(EX ABU ZABAL)

(16 Sq. KM)

RED SEA

(8 Sq.KM)

ESTIMATED DEPOSITS

1.647

710

5

PROVEN RESERVES

55

24

1.6

 

  • ONLY A PART OF THE DEPOSITS HAVE BEEN EXPLORED. ON-GOING EXPLORATION IS CONTINUOUSLY ADDING TO THE PROVED RESERVES.
 

MINING PROCESS :

ALL MINES ARE OPEN CAST WITH AVERAGE STRIPPING RATIO FOR DIFFERENT MINES RANGING FROM 1 : 4 TO 1: 29

 

BENEFICATION PROCESS :

  • CRUSHING & SCREENING TO REDUCE THE SIZE FROM 50X80 CM TO 20 MM . IN THIS STAGE HIGH SILICA ORE IS SEPARATED.
  • WASHING SECTION WHERE THE SCRUBBER AND ATTRITIONERS REDUCE R2O3 CHLORIDE AND REMOVE THE CLAY BY DE-LIMING PROCESS VIA HYDROCYCLONES.
  • DRYING SECTION :

•  DEWATERING SCREENS TO DECREASE MOISTURE FROM 20% TO 12%.

•  STATIONARY DRAINAGE TO REDUCE MOISTURE TO 10%.

•  SUN-AIR DRYING TO DECREASE MOISTURE TO 6-3%.

•  MECHANICAL DRYERS (ROTARY DRYERS) TO REDUCE MOISTURE TO 2.50%.

•  HIGH-GRADE ORE (29-31% P2O5) ONLY CRUSHING & SCREENING (UP-GRADATION 1-2%)

•  MEDIUM & LOW GRADE ORE : CRUSHING, SCREENING & SCRUBBING. (UP-GRADATION 5-7%)

 

 

Phosphate Grades
(Average Chemical Assay)

ELEMENT

EAST SEBAYIA (%)

WEST SEBAYIA (%)

RED SEA (%)

 

 

 

 

 

(WASHED)

 

P2O5

32% MIN

31% MIN

30% MIN

29% MIN

31% MIN

29% MIN

27% MIN

CAO

49-50.50

48-49

48-49

48.8

48-49

46.00

48.8

MGO

0.28-0.35

0.3-0.4

0.3-0.4

0.31

0.02-0.03

0.20

0.31

AL2O3

0.27-0.4

0.3-0.4

0.3-0.4

0.44

205

205

0.44

FE2O3

1.98-2.1

1.9-2.1

2-2.2

2.0

2.5

2.5

1.8

K2O

0.02-0.04

0.02-0.05

0.02-0.06

0.04

0.06

0.06

0.04

SIO2

4.75-6.2

5-6.5

5-6.5

8.0

4-6

8.5

6-8

F

3.2

3.0

3.0

2.8

3.1

2.9

2.8

NA2O

0.36-0.45

0.35-0.5

0.35-0.5

0.5

0.5

0.50

0.5

CL

0.05-0.07

0.05-0.07

0.05-0.07

0.05

0.02-0.03

0.02-0.03

0.055

SO3

1.37-1.75

1.3-1.5

1.5-1.85

1.29

------

------

1.39

L.O.I

6.5-7

6.5-7

6.5-7

7.9

7-8

8.0

9.09

CO2

4.5-5.2

4.5-5.2

4.5-5.2

5-6

5-6

5-6

5-7

CACO3

10.2-11.8

10.2-10.8

10.2-11.8

11.3-13.6

11.3-13.6

11.3-13.6

11.3-13.6

MOISTURE

2-3

2-3

2-3

2-3

2-3

2-3

2-3

 
 

Chemical Analysis For Rock

 

32%

31%

30%

29%

28%

27%

ELEMENT

RESULT (%)

P 2 O 5

32

31.5

30.2

29.5

28.30

27.1

CaO

49

50

49

48.0

45.61

47.2

MgO

0.05

0.62

0.62

0.62

2.09

0.71

AL 2 O 3

5.4

0.4

0.4

0.4

0.32

0.53

Fe 2 O 3

1.4

1.48

1.48

1.473

1.48

1.56

SiO 2

5.5

6.48

7.48

8.34

6.91

7.9

F

3.1

3.1

3.1

3.00

2.70

2.66

CL

0.05

0.09

0.1

0.11

0.12

0.13

Na2O

0.4

0.50

0.50

0.56

0.56

0.56

SO4

0.8

1.00

1.00

1.00

1.20

1.1

L.O.I

7.1

7.68

7.68

8.13

7.98

10.16

Co 2

5.1

5.6

5.6

6.45

7.13

7.7

CaCo 3

11.8

11.62

12.72

14.66

13.63

17.5

Humidity

1.5%

2%

2%

2%

3.64%

2%

BPL

70%

68%

67%

65.5%

61.87

64%


SIZE DISTRIBUTION

SIZE(MM)

RESULT %

+ 4.5

0 -2

4.5 – 0.16

70 – 80

0.16 – 0.08

10 – 15

0.08 – 0.05

3 - 5

- 0.050

5 - 8

USES :

•  FERTILIZERS INDUSTRY & PHOSPHORIC ACID

•  INSECTICIDES INDUSTREY

•  IRON & STEEL INDUSTRY

MOUNTHLY PRODUCTION :

•  75.000 TON / MOUNTH

RESERVE :

•  40 MILLION TON FOR SURE