UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

ASSIGNMENT 1
MIP 511

OTENG TUMAELETSE
THABISO JACOB
Cassiterite deposits can be categorized into two main types, i.e. alluvial or 'soft'
rock deposits, and 'hard' rock deposits. The former are relatively simple to
upgrade owing to their relatively coarse nature and their high degree of
liberation. Hard-rock deposits, on the other hand, require considerably more
sophisticated gravity methods to achieve the required degree of beneficiation. Commented [M1]: Typical cut and paste. Plagiarize and FAIL

CASSITERITE

ALLUVIAL (SOFT HARD ROCK

DEPOSIT) DEPOSIT

Cassiterite has high relative density in relation to its gangue mineral therefore Commented [M2]: What are the main associated minerals

makes it possible to concentrate it using gravity separation techniques by

exploiting the density difference of the latter. The separation techniques that
can be applied varies according the type of deposit.() Commented [M3]: citations

The most pertinent issue to be highlighted is that the cassiterite grain should
be recovered at their earliest possible stage at their largest size because once
the grain particles size becomes less than 43micron efficiency of gravity
concentration process decreases drastically. The possible gravity separation
techniques and the justification will be discussed later.
Alluvial deposits which account for 70-80% of the world reserves, and the
beneficiation processes are relatively simple because of the high degree of
liberation of the particles.
For hard-rock ores, crushing and grinding is used to the liberate the cassiterite
from its gangue mineral, because of its high degree of brittleness these type of Commented [M4]: copied and pasted. Tell me I am wrong
deposit has a tendency of forming fines which are difficult to recover hence
leading to the loss of about 6% of metallic tin of the minus 6 microns.

Commented [M5]:
Commented [M6]: which method are going to use and why?

GRAVITY SEPARATION TECHNIQUE APPLIED TO

RECOVERY OF CASSITERITE

ALLUVIAL DEPOSITE
1. ANCIENT METHOD PANNING
2. SLUICE BOX
HARD ROCK DEPOSIT
3. JIGGING
1. SHAKING TABLE
4. SHAKING TABLE