Metallurgical composites and processes

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A process for production of metallurgical composites comprises the steps: (a) subjecting brown coal to shearing forces to produce a plastic mass; (b) admixing finely divided ore and/or concentrate with the coal either during or after step (a); (c) compacting the mixture produced in step (b) to produce a compacted mass; and (d) drying the compacted mass to produce the metallurgical composite. Step (c) is preferably effected by extrusion. The invention also provides a smelting process in which the composite is heated to a temperature at which the ore or concentrate is reduced to metal.