:: Flotation Mini-Pilot Plant from Canadian Process Technologies

The development of a concentration process for new mineral deposits must take into account the ore variability. Proper economic assessment must consider this parameter carefully so that the plant can be designed with sufficient flexibility to handle different ore types.

The metallurgical variability assessment sometimes is not well studied because of practical difficulties involved in performing such studies. It is not uncommon that the only samples available at the pre-feasibility and feasibility stage are drill cores. Evaluations are therefore usually restricted to bench scale tests. Effects of internal re-circulating loads are inferred from open circuit results, obtained by either mathematical simulation or, in the best cases, from locked cycle tests. Locked cycle tests, however, often do not give the results with a degree of confidence that is desirable.

The Mini-Pilot Plant, comprises a highly versatile set of laboratory tools designed to allow the metallurgist to extract the maximum amount of metallurgical information using only drill core samples. It is possible to simulate the continuous operation of a basic rougher / scavenger / cleaner circuit with a level of confidence that exceeds those from standard locked cycle tests. With as little as 100 kg of sample, 20 hours of continuous operation can be attained. The effects of recycled intermediate products and reagents on ultimate metallurgical performance can be easily determined.

The Mini-Pilot Plant has been designed as a precision tool. Extensive use of instrumentation allows operating conditions to be replicated from test to test to reduce process variability and experimental error.

The Mini-Pilot Plant consists of the following key components:

• Batch grinding mill
• Slurry holding tank
• MPP feed tank
• Continuous Flotation Machine (CFM) base unit
• Column Flotation Module
• Regrind Mill
• Reagent Dispensing System