UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,

PESHAWAR

MINERAL PROCESSING-II
ASSIGNMENT NO #03
(COURSE CODE MinE_410)

NAME: MUGHEERA AYAZ

REG.NO: 20PWMIN0871

SUBMITTED TO:
DR. ISHAQ AHMED

DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING,

PESHAWAR
 VARIOUS MODEL AVAILABLE FOR UPGRADATION
(CONCENTRATION) OF GRAVITY CONCENTRATION
METHOD:

GRAVITY CONCENTRATION METHOD:

Gravity concentration, a time-tested mineral beneficiation process dating back to 500 BC, serves as a vital
technique for treating ores challenging to beneficiate through froth flotation. This process capitalizes on
differences in mineral density and particle size, employing fluid power and mechanical force to stratify
minerals and yield products with varying densities. The method is particularly effective for materials
exhibiting significant density variations, including non-ferrous metals, ferrous metals, rare metals, beach
sand, and coal. This overview delves into five common gravity concentration methods: shaker
beneficiation, jig beneficiation, chute beneficiation, dense media beneficiation, and centrifugal
beneficiation, outlining their applications, advantages, and disadvantages.[1]

1. SHAKER BENEFICIATION:
Applications: Used in gravity concentration plants for
fine-grained ore separation, gold ore sorting in Africa, and
processing of tungsten, tin, tantalum, and platinum group
metals.

Pros and Cons: High enrichment ratio, simultaneous

sorting of various minerals, fan-shaped ore distribution;
however, drawbacks include large equipment footprint,
substantial water consumption, and limited productivity.
Figure 1 SHOWS SHAKING TABLE
PARTICLE TRAJECTORY MODEL

EQUATION:
𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌𝑓
𝑅=
𝜌𝑚 − 𝜌𝑓

This equation relates the relative density of a particle (R) to the densities of the particle (ρp), fluid (ρf),
and medium (ρm). It helps in analyzing the trajectory of particles on the shaking table.

BED STRATIFICATION MODEL:

EQUATION:

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 ℎ𝑖 𝑛𝑖 ⋅ 𝑒 − 𝛼 𝑇𝑖𝑡
ℎ𝑡
= 𝑡
∑𝑁
𝑗=1 𝑛𝑗 ⋅ 𝑒 − 𝛼 𝑇𝑖

This model describes the stratification of particles in the bed on the shaking table over time. ℎ, ℎ𝑖
represents the height of particles of size 𝑖, 𝑇𝑖 is the characteristic time for particles of size 𝑖, 𝑛𝑖 is the initial
concentration of particles of size 𝑖, and α is a constant.

2. JIG BENEFICIATION:
Applications: Ideal for processing coarse and medium-
grained minerals, recovering heavy minerals like gold, tin,
tungsten, platinum, and processing iron ore, manganese ore,
and more.

Pros and Cons: High separation efficiency, simple

operation, reduced water consumption and floor space; yet,
less efficient for very fine minerals and lower efficiency in
coal preparation.

STRATIFICATION MODEL: Figure 2 SHOWS THE JIGING

EQUATION:

ℎ𝑡
ℎ𝑖 =
1 + 𝑒−𝑎⋅(𝐷𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒−𝐷𝑐𝑢𝑡)

This model describes the stratification of particles in the jig bed, where ℎ𝑖 is the height of particles of size
𝑖 ℎ𝑡 is the total bed height, 𝐷𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒 is the particle density, 𝐷𝑐𝑢𝑡 is the density cut-point, and a is a
constant.

RECOVERY MODEL:

EQUATION:

𝜌𝑖,𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝑅𝑖 =
𝜌𝑖,𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑

This model relates the recovery of a specific mineral (𝑅𝑖) to the ratio of its density in the concentrate
(𝜌𝑖, 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒) and the feed (𝜌𝑖, 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑).

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3. CHUTE BENEFICIATION:
Applications: Primarily used for processing heavy
mineral placer deposits, microfine placer deposits of
tungsten, tin, gold, platinum, and rare metal ores.

Pros and Cons: Occupies small area, low production

cost, and low energy consumption; however, sorting
accuracy is lower, reduced usage with the advent of jigs
and shakers, and challenges in equipment parameter
adjustments.

Figure 3 SHOWS CHUTE CLASSIFIER

FLOW SEPARATION MODEL:

EQUATION:

𝑄 =𝐴×𝑉
Describes the flow separation in the chute, where Q is the volumetric flow rate, A is the cross-sectional
area, and V is the velocity of the slurry.

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION MODEL:

EQUATION:

𝑛𝑖
𝑃𝑖 =
∑𝑁𝐽=1 𝑛𝑗
Describes the distribution of particle sizes (Pi) in the concentrate, where( ni )is the number of particles in
size fraction i.

4. DENSE MEDIA BENEFICIATION:

Applications: Prominent in coal preparation for clean
coal production, ore pre-selection, and purification of
industrial minerals like iron ore, copper ore, and
diamonds.

Pros and Cons: Precise density control, large processing

capacity, and high separation efficiency; countered by
high power consumption, wear concerns, and sensitivity
to slurry changes.
Figure 4 DENSE MEDIA SEPARATION
PARTICLE SETTLING MODEL:

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EQUATION:

𝑔 ⋅ (𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌𝑓) ⋅ 𝑑2
𝑉=
18 ⋅ 𝜇

Describes the settling velocity (V) of particles in the dense medium under the influence of gravity.
Parameters include gravitational acceleration (g), particle diameter (d), particle density (ρp), fluid density
(ρf), and fluid viscosity (μ).

EFFIICENCY MODEL:

EQUATION:

𝐷final − 𝐷initial
𝐸=( ) × 100
𝐷final

VARIOUS MODEL AVAILABLE FOR UPGRADATION

(CONCENTRATION) OF FLOTATION METHOD:
FLOTATION:
Flotation, in mineral processing, method used to separate and concentrate ores by
altering their surfaces to a hydrophobic or hydrophilic condition—that is, the surfaces are either repelled or
attracted by water. The flotation process was developed on a commercial scale early in the 20th century to
remove very fine mineral particles that formerly had gone to waste in gravity concentration plants.
Flotation has now become the most widely used process for extracting many minerals from their ores.

Most kinds of minerals require coating with a water repellent

to make them float. By coating the minerals with small
amounts of chemicals or oils, finely ground particles of the
minerals remain unwetted and will thus adhere to air bubbles.
The mineral particles are coated by agitating a pulp of ore,
water, and suitable chemicals; the latter bind to the surface of
the mineral particles and make them hydrophobic. The
unwetted particles adhere to air bubbles and are carried to the
upper surface of the pulp, where they enter the froth; the froth Figure 5 SHOE=WS THE FLOTATION MAHINE
containing these particles can then be removed. Unwanted
minerals that naturally resist wetting may be treated so that their surfaces will be wetted and they will sink.

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This ability to modify the floatability of minerals has made possible many otherwise difficult separations
that are now common practice in modern mills. Flotation is widely used to concentrate copper, lead, and
zinc minerals, which commonly accompany one another in their ores. Many complex ore mixtures formerly
of little value have become major sources of certain metals by means of the flotation process.[2]

EMPERICAL MODEL FOR FLOTATION METHOD:

KINETIC MODEL:

EQUATION:
𝑑𝐶
𝑑𝑡
= 𝑘 ⋅ (𝐶𝑒𝑞 − 𝐶)
Describes the rate of change of concentration (C) of a particular component in the flotation system with
respect to time. (K) is the rate constant, and (Ceq) is the equilibrium concentration.

POPULATION BALANCE MODELS (PBM):

EQUATION:

𝑑𝑡 𝑁 𝑁
𝑑𝑡
= − 𝜏
+ 𝛽 ⋅ (1 − 𝑁𝑚𝑎𝑥)

RECOVERY MODEL:

EQUATION:

𝐶𝑖𝑛𝑖𝐶𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 ⋅ 𝑉𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙
𝑅 = 100 ⋅
𝐶𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 ⋅ 𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙

SOLID-LIQUID SEPARATION METHOD:

Mineral processing techniques often implement wet operations where the material is processed in the form
of slurry. It is necessary to separate the liquid and solid phases at different stages or at the end of processing.
This operation is performed in two stages:

 Thickening, which uses settling tanks and clarifiers (circular, lamellar, lagoon, etc.), with or without
flocculation/coagulation, and which enable solid matter to be concentrated using gravity in a much
denser phase than the initial slurry, with an initial separation of the liquid phase.
 Filtration, which uses the forced passage of the liquid phase through a porous element (clothes) which
holds the solids, or by pressure (filter press), or by vacuum suction (belt or drum filter).

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Supplementary techniques meet the needs of more specific scenarios
such as the centrifugation of ultra-fine materials.
In terms of thickening, CTP is able to perform laboratory studies
on the settling parameters of a slurry (sedimentation curve,
Talmage and Fitch method) as well as the selection of the most
appropriate flocculating agents, sometimes alongside
manufacturers. With regard to filtration, CTP has laboratory filters
with which it can also study essential parameters such as filtration
time, filtering capacity, etc.
At pilot level, CTP has presses filter, vacuum belt filters and Figure 6 SJOWS SOLID LIQUID SEPARATION
vacuum drum filters of various dimensions and capacities. This
equipment can be tested depending on the characteristics of the material, and the intended applications and
objectives.[3]
EMPERICAL MODEL FOR SOLID-LIQUID SEPARATION METHOD:

FILTERATION MODEL:

EQUATION:
𝑑𝑉 𝐾 ⋅ 𝐴 ⋅ (𝛥𝑃 − 𝛥𝑃𝑐)
=
𝑑𝑡 𝜇

Describes the rate of cake build-up during filtration, where K is the specific cake resistance, A is the
filtration area, ΔP is the pressure drop across the filter, and 𝛥𝑃𝑐 is the critical pressure.

SEDIMENTATION MODEL:

EQUATION:

𝑄
𝑉=
𝐴
Where:

V=velocity of particles during sedimentation,

Q= is the volumetric flow rate

A= is the cross-sectional area.

REFRENCES:
[1] Machinery, F. (2021, June 7). Master top 5 gravity concentration methods
and machines. Ftmmachinery.com. https://www.ftmmachinery.com/blog/why-use-
gravity-concentration.html

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[2] The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2012). flotation. In Encyclopedia

Britannica.

[3] Solid/liquid separation. (n.d.). Ctp.be. Retrieved January 18, 2024, from

https://www.ctp.be/en/expertise/mineral-processing/solid-liquid-separation/

THANK YOU

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