A new flotation simulator is being developed by the JKMRC as an offshoot of AMIRA Internationals research project, P9M, thanks to the support of nine industry sponsors and the Queensland Governments Department of State Development.

Funds contributed by WMC Resources, Anglo Platinum, Rio Tinto/IOC, Normandy Golden Grove, Phelps Dodge, Impala Platinum, Lonmin Platinum, Pasminco Century and KCGM will be matched by a Queensland Government grant of up to $157,000 for the development of the new simulator.

The Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) is developing the computer package, JKSimFloat, to simulate the steady state performance of a flotation plant, given the circuit configuration, component floatabilities and cell characteristics. JKSimFloat will provide metallurgists with a robust tool for conducting simulations of specific flotation circuit problems, in much less time, and in a more logical way than current methods.

At present, metallurgists use generic calculators like Excel spreadsheets to develop plant simulations. These take between six and 12 months to develop with the end result being a complex spreadsheet that usually only the developer can use or refine.

The first phase of development of JKSimFloat V5.0 is planned for release at the end of 2002.