Mechanical milling is a very simple technique unlike chemical
methods that involve optimizing parameters like pH, reaction temperature,
filtration, washing, etc. In that direction, in our previous
study, we attempted to prepare magnetite out of iron ore tailings
through mechanical milling with iron powder as a reductant.
Unfortunately, we failed to obtain the desired magnetite product;
instead ended up obtaining undesired fayalite (Fe2SiO4) phase
due to the interference of the high amount of silica (SiO2) in the
tailings during mechanochemical reaction