3454 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
resembles beach sand. The Quebracho tannin is very fine
and creates a reddish hue to all liquids, but it was observed
to settle over time.
To illustrate the settlement of the minerals in the liq-
uid, see Figure 6 (left) shows feedstock sample immediate
after collection at point of sample, then Figure 6 (center)
image is the same sample after 10 minutes then finally
Figure 6 (right) after total time of 30 minutes. The staining
on the inside sides of the bottle on the last two images is
from the Quebracho tannin and is typically ultrafine (well
below 1µm).
The Z5E centrifuge was mounted on the eastern side
of and below the main flocculation plant, due to the need
to drop the solids by gravity into an existing concrete hold-
ing bunker from which it was periodically removed by
front-endloader.
The feed point from the wastewater exit of the plant
is, as mentioned above, located on the western side of the
plant. This could not practically be changed for the trial.
Consequently, the feed line needed to be much longer than
the usual 3–5 meters. The total distance from the waste exit
point (the feed line for the self-priming lobe pump) was
+40 meters long with very little elevation drop (less than
1 meter). The coarser silica content of the feed thus rapidly
settled in the bottom of this longer-than-usual feed pipe,
restricting the feed flow to the centrifuge. A work-around
was created where the feed line was regularly flushed, but
this rapid flow-reduction meant that the flow was generally
less than optimal.
Notwithstanding the above, the test results showed
negligible difference in solids dryness or centrate clarity –
whether at full flow or restricted flow (Figure 7).
The centrifuge mounted on the western side, next to
the concrete pen to receive solids the feed pump above on
the eastern side with the 30–40-meter feed line connecting
the two running diagonally below the flotation plant.
For the duration of the pilot trial, it was arranged that
the solids are deposited by gravity on an angled steel slide
under the centrifuge, from where they end up in a con-
crete bunker. The mine diverts it’s feed front-end loader
Feed sample immediately
at collection
Natural gravity settlement
after 10 minutes
Natural gravity settlement
after 30 minutes
Figure 6.
Figure 7.
resembles beach sand. The Quebracho tannin is very fine
and creates a reddish hue to all liquids, but it was observed
to settle over time.
To illustrate the settlement of the minerals in the liq-
uid, see Figure 6 (left) shows feedstock sample immediate
after collection at point of sample, then Figure 6 (center)
image is the same sample after 10 minutes then finally
Figure 6 (right) after total time of 30 minutes. The staining
on the inside sides of the bottle on the last two images is
from the Quebracho tannin and is typically ultrafine (well
below 1µm).
The Z5E centrifuge was mounted on the eastern side
of and below the main flocculation plant, due to the need
to drop the solids by gravity into an existing concrete hold-
ing bunker from which it was periodically removed by
front-endloader.
The feed point from the wastewater exit of the plant
is, as mentioned above, located on the western side of the
plant. This could not practically be changed for the trial.
Consequently, the feed line needed to be much longer than
the usual 3–5 meters. The total distance from the waste exit
point (the feed line for the self-priming lobe pump) was
+40 meters long with very little elevation drop (less than
1 meter). The coarser silica content of the feed thus rapidly
settled in the bottom of this longer-than-usual feed pipe,
restricting the feed flow to the centrifuge. A work-around
was created where the feed line was regularly flushed, but
this rapid flow-reduction meant that the flow was generally
less than optimal.
Notwithstanding the above, the test results showed
negligible difference in solids dryness or centrate clarity –
whether at full flow or restricted flow (Figure 7).
The centrifuge mounted on the western side, next to
the concrete pen to receive solids the feed pump above on
the eastern side with the 30–40-meter feed line connecting
the two running diagonally below the flotation plant.
For the duration of the pilot trial, it was arranged that
the solids are deposited by gravity on an angled steel slide
under the centrifuge, from where they end up in a con-
crete bunker. The mine diverts it’s feed front-end loader
Feed sample immediately
at collection
Natural gravity settlement
after 10 minutes
Natural gravity settlement
after 30 minutes
Figure 6.
Figure 7.