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Jameson Cell Operation: Optimization in Base Metal Scavenging
Isabella Verster, Mohsen Yahyaei, Kym Runge
Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC), Sustainable Minerals Institute,
The University of Queensland, Australia
ARC Centre of Excellence on Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals (CE200100009),
University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
Chris Anderson
Glencore Technology, Australia
ABSTRACT: The Jameson cell is widely used in base metal roughing and cleaning duties. Whilst its use in base
metal scavenging is increasing rapidly, operational parameters must be varied to meet this duty’s requirements.
Experimental tests were performed using a pilot-scale Jameson cell in a copper scavenger duty over a range
of operating conditions while measuring hydrodynamic and froth parameters as well as overall flotation
performance.
The work verifies the ability of the Jameson cell to operate in this vastly different regime than traditionally
accepted. It provides an understanding of the relative impact of operational variables on performance in
scavenging.
Keywords: Jameson cell, Jameson Concentrator, scavenging, flotation
INTRODUCTION
The Jameson cell flotation technology was developed at
Mount Isa Mines in the late 1980s to address the limita-
tions of flotation column installations, particularly the tall
pulp zone required (up to 15 m column height) to provide
sufficient residence time for particle collection. During the
1990s, the Jameson cell had great success in coal fines flota-
tion. It became the state-of-the-art in these applications in
Australia due to its ability to achieve final product grades at
high recoveries in a single pass. This led to improvements
that have made these units low wear, with self-regulating
control, and capable of producing good performance with
minimal operator input (Young et al. 2006).
Today, the Jameson cell has over 450 installations
worldwide and is extensively used in many commodities,
such as lead, zinc, copper, coal, and industrial minerals.
Typical duties where Jameson cells are employed in min-
eral processing circuits include pre-flotation, cleaning,
roughing and scalping (Evans, Atkinson &Jameson 1995
Harbort, Jackson &Manlapig 1994 Huynh et al. 2014).
The Jameson cell has thus far had limited application in
scavenging.
Jameson Cell Operation: Optimization in Base Metal Scavenging
Isabella Verster, Mohsen Yahyaei, Kym Runge
Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC), Sustainable Minerals Institute,
The University of Queensland, Australia
ARC Centre of Excellence on Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals (CE200100009),
University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
Chris Anderson
Glencore Technology, Australia
ABSTRACT: The Jameson cell is widely used in base metal roughing and cleaning duties. Whilst its use in base
metal scavenging is increasing rapidly, operational parameters must be varied to meet this duty’s requirements.
Experimental tests were performed using a pilot-scale Jameson cell in a copper scavenger duty over a range
of operating conditions while measuring hydrodynamic and froth parameters as well as overall flotation
performance.
The work verifies the ability of the Jameson cell to operate in this vastly different regime than traditionally
accepted. It provides an understanding of the relative impact of operational variables on performance in
scavenging.
Keywords: Jameson cell, Jameson Concentrator, scavenging, flotation
INTRODUCTION
The Jameson cell flotation technology was developed at
Mount Isa Mines in the late 1980s to address the limita-
tions of flotation column installations, particularly the tall
pulp zone required (up to 15 m column height) to provide
sufficient residence time for particle collection. During the
1990s, the Jameson cell had great success in coal fines flota-
tion. It became the state-of-the-art in these applications in
Australia due to its ability to achieve final product grades at
high recoveries in a single pass. This led to improvements
that have made these units low wear, with self-regulating
control, and capable of producing good performance with
minimal operator input (Young et al. 2006).
Today, the Jameson cell has over 450 installations
worldwide and is extensively used in many commodities,
such as lead, zinc, copper, coal, and industrial minerals.
Typical duties where Jameson cells are employed in min-
eral processing circuits include pre-flotation, cleaning,
roughing and scalping (Evans, Atkinson &Jameson 1995
Harbort, Jackson &Manlapig 1994 Huynh et al. 2014).
The Jameson cell has thus far had limited application in
scavenging.