PROJECT TITLE

Assessment and Optimization of North

Mara Gold Mine Grinding Circuit

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering 1
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Introduction
Background & problem statement of the project

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Introduction………
 Main objectives

 Evaluation and optimization of existing grinding

circuit at NMGM
 Specific objectives

 To determine PSD in feed and product streams

 To evaluate the existing operating parameters

 To simulate and optimize the existing grinding circuit

University of Dar es Salaam
Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Introduction…….
Significant of the project
 Gives the optimum operating parameters

 Improves gold recovery in downstream process

 Improves liberation of gold particles

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
 55
Introduction…..

Scope of the project

 This project focused on the grinding processes by
evaluation and optimization of the existing grinding
circuit.

 The optimization was done through modelling and

simulation using MODSIM software

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Literature review
Comminution
 Involve breakage of particles to desired product
 Unlock and exposure of valuable mineral for
separation and chemical reaction
Purposes
Liberation of valuable minerals from gangue material
Exposure of large surface area per unit mass of
material to facilitates reaction
University of Dar es Salaam
Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Literature Review……

Factors for grinding circuit efficiency and performance

 feed rate and circulating load

 size distribution and hardness of the ore

 Grinding media and mill loading

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Literature Review……
Efficiency of grinding circuit  Partition curve
 Bond efficiency factor
 Cyclone performance
(partition curve)
 %-of product fineness of
the ball mill discharge

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Methodology
Sampling point

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Methodology…….

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Methodology…….
Summary of Methodology

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Results and Discussions
Performance of Grinding Circuit
 SAG mill circuit performance
 Ball mills circuit performance

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Results and Discussions
Hydrocyclones performance

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Results and Discussions …..
Simulation and optimization …….
 Influence of %-solid

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Results and Discussions
Simulation and optimization …….
 Influence of vortex diameter

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Results and Discussions…….
Simulation and optimization …….
 Influence of spigot diameter

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Results and Discussions…….
Overall results

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Conclusion and recommendation
Conclusion
- Coarser product fineness of 140 µm against 106 µm
- Work index of 21.43 - 22.93 against 15.3 - 17.3 kWh/t
- Change of the spigot diameter from 90 mm to 130
mm is feasible
- Change of the vortex finder diameter from 170 mm to
200 mm was feasible
- Low %-solid of 67.5 % was feasible
- Change the trommel screen aperture size to 12 mm
- Higher throughput of 438 t/h could be achieved

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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Recommendation

- Use of trommel size of 12 mm, cyclone %-solid of

67.5 %, spigot and Vortex finder diameter of 130
mm and 200 mm respectively, could improve the
final product size to 106 µm.
- Further studies on the influence of two classification
stages should be observed
- Further study on the two mill configuration should
be addressed
University of Dar es Salaam
Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
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THANK YOU

University of Dar es Salaam

Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering 20