Design of a Bulkhead Underground Leaching Stope
This method may be economical for certain low-grade deposits by minimizing the transport of material to the surface for the recovery of valuable mineral. Application of the in situ stope leaching technique is site specific and would require detailed site characterization studies for preparation of an environmental impact statement and permitting for its design, construction, […]
Size-by-Size Effects – Flotation Column Cleaning Circuit
PT Freeport Indonesia operates two parallel concentrators for copper-gold flotation at their Tembagapura operations in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Overall and Stage Performances Freeport staff used the assays from the survey samples along with the material balance program BILMAT to obtain a consistent circuit balance. These results are summarized in Table 1. Pyrite recoveries shown […]
Mineralogical from a Smelting Reduction Ironmaking Pilot Plant
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has conducted major cooperative research efforts with the United State Department of Energy (DOE) and industrial organizations since the autumn of 1988 on the development of a process for direct steelmaking. This research has been inspired by the fact that the direct iron reduction smelting process holds several […]
How to Determine the Height of Column Flotation
Pneumatic flotation units are fast replacing conventional flotation cells in both scavenging and cleaning duties. One such unit that has received wide acceptability in industry is the flotation column. While many consider column flotation to be a recent development, its roots date back to the mid-1910s where it was first commercially tested at Inspiration Copper […]
Optimising Mixing in Anionic Conditioning Phosphates
The process design emphasizes maximum recovery of phosphates in the anionic flotation stage to eliminate further processing of the underflow. The flotation performance of phosphate ore in the anionic flotation stage is determined to a large extent by anionic conditioning, the unit operation prior to flotation where the reagents (collector) and phosphate slurry are mixed […]
Flocculation in Flow through Pipes & In-Line Mixers
It is common industrial practice to add polymeric flocculants directly into slurry streams during flow through pipes. However, very little information is available on the specific requirements for such polymer addition systems and their design and operation appear to be largely intuitive. In-Line Pipe Flocculant Mixer Test The flocculation tests were performed in a Kenics […]
Pressure Oxidation Circuit
Mineralogy unique to the Lone Tree deposit allowed for the design of a partial oxidation process that takes advantage of the heterogeneous nature of the pyrite morphology. Partial oxidation has resulted in an autoclave plant that is able to achieve low operating unit costs. Process Description The oxidation circuit consists of one autoclave, two stages […]
Air Classification of Fly Ash
Fly ash is classified as a natural pozzolan and finds significant use as a cement additive. It has been found to increase the plasticity of the cement mixture while lowering the amount of mix water needed. In addition to improving leveling and finishing properties, fly ash improves pumpability as well as decreases the heat of […]
Particle Segregation in Hydrocyclones
In mineral processing, segregation means a non-uniform distribution of particles with different size, shape and density among the various streams exiting a process plant or a generic operation unit. This term is generally applied with reference to the physical characteristics of particles that are of little or no interest in the separation, or may even […]
Improve Performance of Copper Solvent Extraction Process
LIGHTNIN pioneered impeller developments in the early 1980’s that allowed axial flow impellers (A310) in the auxiliary mix boxes of SX plants to reduce shear and entrainment while providing good contacting of the aqueous and organic phases. However, the mixing technology of the primary pumper has not changed since its introduction. LIGHTNIN has studied the […]