Process for treatment of lateritic ores

In a thermal upgrading process for treating nickeliferous lateritic ores having a high silicate to limonite ratio and containing above 24% up to about 40% iron, which comprises:

• forming agglomerates of the particulate nickeliferous lateritic ore and a reducing agent, heating said agglomerates to reduce nickel values in the ore to metallic nickel and to coalesce the reduced nickel values into ferronickel particles;
• the improvement comprising:
• employing said reducing agent in the agglomerates in an amount of up to about 12% by weight, said reducing agent containing at least about 1% by weight liquid hydrocarbon, the amount of reducing agent being based on the weight of the ore, adding to the agglomerates at least one reagent selected from the group consisting of alkali metal compounds, alkaline earth metal compounds and sulfur, said reagent being added in a small but effective amount for improved nickel recovery up to about 10%;
• establishing a shallow bed of the agglomerates on a movable hearth;
• moving the shallow bed of agglomerates successively and rapidly through a confined space having a preheating zone and a reducing zone having an atmosphere at least reducing to nickel oxide while subjecting the agglomerates to a temperature of between about 1295.degree. and about 1320.degree. C. for a period of time of up to about 30 minutes to partially melt the agglomerates, to reduce nickel values to metallic nickel, to to coalesce the reduced nickel values into ferronickel articles;
• thereby permitting continuous treatment of said nickelferous lateritic ore containing a substantial silicate fraction at temperatures above the softening temperature of the agglomerates and achieving a nickel recovery of at least above about 80%.