Method for the beneficiation of iron ore streams

A method of beneficiating iron ore streams, the method comprising the steps of:

• sizing an iron ore stream to provide a wet fines fraction of less than 3.0 mm diameter particle size;
• contacting the wet fines fraction of less than 3.0 diameter particle size with a magnetic field directly, so that the fines fraction is magnetically separated into a concentrate stream and a tailings stream;
• and
• contacting the tailings stream with a second magnetic field and magnetically separating the tailings stream into a second concentrate stream and a second tailings stream;
• wherein the iron ore stream is a comminuted iron ore stream comprising about 40-66 w/w % iron and the concentrate stream has an iron concentration of at least 55 w/w % iron, wherein the tailings stream is an untreated tailings stream, and the second magnetic field is of higher intensity than the magnetic field.