In the process of mining and beneficiation of sulfide gold ore, are you often troubled by the selection of ore dressing equipment? Sulfide gold ore is an important source of gold mining, and its beneficiation work occupies a key position in the entire gold production chain. However, there are many types of ore dressing equipment on the market, from crushing equipment to grinding equipment, to sorting equipment, which is dazzling. Once the wrong choice is made, it will fall into the dilemma of soaring energy consumption, low mineral recovery rate and high maintenance cost. But don’t worry, this article carefully summarizes 5 scientific sulfide gold ore dressing equipment selection skills. Help to accurately match the whole process equipment of crushing-grinding-flotation-dewatering to reduce decision-making risks.
How to choose sulfide gold ore dressing equipment? This article summarizes 5 core tips, mainly based on ore properties, processing capacity matching, equipment performance, cost conditions, and supplier strength. It helps you accurately match crushing, grinding, flotation, and dewatering equipment, reduce decision-making risks, and improve the economic benefits of mines.
Main methods of sulfide gold ore dressing
(1). Pretreatment process (crushing, grinding)
Pretreatment is the basic link of sulfide gold ore beneficiation, mainly involving crushing, grinding and washing equipment. Crushing equipment such as jaw crusher and cone crusher can crush large pieces of ore into appropriate particle size. Grinding equipment, represented by ball mill, can further grind the ore to fully dissociate the gold particles. Washing equipment can remove impurities on the surface of the ore. The purpose of this stage is to make the ore reach a particle size and purity suitable for subsequent separation, laying the foundation for improving the gold recovery rate.
(2). Flotation method
Flotation is the core technology of sulfide gold ore beneficiation, especially suitable for the recovery of fine gold and sulfide ores. The ore pulp is regulated by reagents to make the gold minerals selectively attach to bubbles and float up. Commonly used equipment includes mechanical agitation flotation machines and aeration flotation machines, and the recovery rate can reach more than 90%. However, attention should be paid to the characteristics of the ore, such as high-sulfur and high-arsenic ores that need pretreatment. The advantage is that it has strong adaptability and can efficiently process low-grade ores, but the precise control of reagents is the key.
(3). Gravity separation method
Gravity separation method is mainly used to treat sulfide ores with coarse-grained free gold minerals, or as a pre-enrichment method before flotation. Through equipment such as shaking tables and jigs, the density difference of minerals is used to achieve separation. Its advantages are no reagent pollution and low equipment investment, which is suitable for small mines or environmentally sensitive areas.
(4). Cyanidation method
The cyanidation method is used to treat high-grade gold concentrate or difficult-to-float ores. The gold is dissolved by cyanide and then adsorbed and recovered. The recovery rate can reach more than 95%, which is suitable for the extraction of fine particles or encapsulated gold, but the environmental protection requirements are strict and a tailings treatment system is required.
Sulfide gold ore dressing core equipment
1. Sulfide gold Crushing equipment
Jaw crusher is suitable for the coarse crushing stage, processing large pieces of ore, with simple structure and easy maintenance, but the product particle size is coarse.
Cone crusher is used for medium and fine crushing, adopts the principle of lamination crushing, produces finer (discharge 3-60mm) and more uniform particles, especially suitable for high hardness ores.
The two are often used together – jaw crusher for primary crushing and cone crusher for secondary crushing, forming an efficient crushing system to reduce the subsequent grinding energy consumption.
2. Sulfide gold Grinding equipment
Ball mill achieves fine grinding through steel ball impact grinding, which is suitable for ores with high hardness and need for fine grinding, but has high energy consumption. Rod mill uses steel rod linear contact grinding, the product is more uniform and less over-crushed, suitable for brittle ores or coarse grinding before gravity separation. The actual selection needs to consider the characteristics of the ore.
3. Sulfide gold Flotation equipment
Mechanically stirred flotation machines generate negative pressure self-priming air through the rotor, which is suitable for small and medium-sized concentrators, with low energy consumption but a small range of aeration adjustment. Aerated flotation machines rely on external fans for air supply, which is suitable for large-scale production, with more uniform bubbles and high energy efficiency, but the equipment investment is increases.
Mechanical stirring is suitable for gold-bearing pyrite flotation, while aerated flotation is suitable for copper-gold ores with large processing capacity.
4. Sulfide gold Dewatering equipment
The thickener achieves solid-liquid separation through gravity sedimentation, with large processing capacity and low operating cost, but the underflow concentration is only 40-60%, which is suitable for preliminary dehydration. The plate and frame filter can produce filter cakes with a water content of 15-20%, and the ceramic filter is more suitable for fine-grained concentrates; although the unit price is high, the filter cake has a low water content. The “thickener + filter” combination can be used, first concentrating and then filtering, taking into account efficiency and economy, and saving tailings pond space.
5 Tips for Selecting Sulfide Gold Ore Dressing Equipment
Tip 1: Selection based on ore characteristics
Sulfide gold ores have diverse characteristics, with different hardness, particle size distribution, and mineral composition. Fine-grained impregnation type preferred flotation machine with ultrafine grinding, coarse-grained free gold should be pre-treated by gravity separation. Understanding the characteristics of the ore is the basis. Only with precise matching can a good foundation be laid for subsequent beneficiation and improve the gold recovery rate.
Tip 2: Consider the processing scale
Flotation is the main method for the beneficiation of sulfide gold ores. Among them, sulfide gold ore dressing plants of different sizes have different requirements for equipment processing capacity. Small and medium-sized dressing plants select mechanical stirring flotation machines, and large-scale production lines use aerated flotation units. Comprehensively consider short-term and long-term planning to avoid insufficient or excessive equipment processing capacity, which affects production efficiency.
Tip 3: Compare equipment performance
If the feed is sulfide ore, the equipment lining needs to be selected from materials that take into account both wear resistance and corrosion resistance. It is also necessary to pay attention to the degree of automation and ease of operation of the equipment. For example, the parameters such as the aeration volume and stirring intensity of the flotation machine affect the flotation effect.
Tip 4: Calculate costs
Equipment costs include not only the purchase price, but also the costs of operation, maintenance, energy consumption, etc. Under the premise of ensuring equipment performance, choose equipment with reasonable prices. Equipment with low operating costs and simple maintenance may have high initial investment, but it can reduce overall costs in the long run. Comprehensively evaluate the costs of all aspects and make economically feasible choices.
Tip 5: Investigate suppliers
It is necessary to investigate whether they provide customized selection solutions and full-process installation and commissioning, such as adjusting equipment parameters according to ore selectivity test data. Selecting suppliers with good reputation and strong strength and real-time diagnosis of equipment operation status is a strong guarantee for the stable operation of the concentrator.
The selection and application of sulfide gold ore dressing equipment is the key to improving gold recovery rate, covering core equipment such as crushing, grinding, flotation, dewatering, etc., which requires precise selection based on ore characteristics, processing scale, equipment performance, cost and supplier service. JXSC supports customized gold ore dressing plant of various types, providing a full set of reliable equipment and perfect services. Welcome to contact us, we will provide you with efficient and economical ore dressing solutions configuration!