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By S. Khoshjavan

In this investigation, the effects of different coal chemical properties were studied to estimate the coal Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) values index. An artificial neural network (ANN) method for 300 data-sets was used for evaluating the HGI values. Ten input parameters were used, and the outputs of the models were compared in order to select the best model for this study. A threelayer ANN was found to be optimum with architecture of five neurons in each of the first and second hidden layers, and one neuron in the output layer. The correlation coefficients (R2) for the training and test data were 0.962 and 0.82 respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that volatile material, carbon, hydrogen, Btu, nitrogen, and fixed carbon (all on a dry basis) have the greatest effect on HGI, and moisture, oxygen (dry), ash (dry), and total sulphur (dry) the least effect. Keywords coal chemical properties, Hardgrove Grindability Index, artificial neural network, back-propagation neural network.

Jun 1, 2013

By J. McPherson

In order to add value to South Africa?s gold reserves AuTEK, a joint venture between Mintek and Anglogold-Ashanti, was started in 2000 with the aim of developing new industrial uses for gold. Accordingly gold catalysts are being made in kilogram quantities by Project AuTEK and sold toend users and other interested parties under the trade name AUROliteTM. Although these materials are optimized for use in CO oxidation applications, demonstration of appropriate activity, selectivity and durability in both liquid- and other gas-phase reactions has been shown1. The review below highlights the recent use of these materials, and other gold catalysts, in reactions of commercial interest.

Jan 1, 2009

By C. A. Rawlins

Deep underground mines use refrigeration systems to provide a reasonably comfortable ambient environment to increase productivity and to maintain safety as a priority. Deep level gold mines maintain the environment at an acceptable temperature, i.e. 27°C. However, the increasing cost of doing so through refrigeration is becoming a significant factor in the economic viability of mines. This paper discusses of the important facet of energy losses in cooling reticulation systems, laying with the specific emphasis on the subject of chilled water transport pipe insulation and its thermo-dynamic relationships. Aspects relating to the deterioration of open cell-type insulation materials such as polyurethane/styrene foams and the use of Phenolic resins that have good fire retardation properties have been investigated. The thermal conductivities of these insulation media are good (meaning below 0.05 W/°C)However, they are known to be negatively influenced by water vapour ingress and vapour pressure differences that result in the ingress of water into the material by means of absorption, condensation, hygrospicity, permeability and capillary action, to name a few of many. The overall effect on mine cooling efficiency takes in the two forms: first by the loss of refrigeration or increased chill in the water temperature arriving in a given section and second, by a loss in transfer efficiency when the gap between the arriving water temperature and the actual air temperature decreases. Keywords: Conductivity, vapour, insulation, fluid, thermal, temperature, pressure, transport, refrigeration.

Jan 1, 2007

By M. R. Khalesi, Y. Kianinia, A. Seyedhakimi, F. Soltani

"The feed ore to Agh-Darreh gold processing plant (Takab City, Iran) contains 2 ppm Au, 7 ppm Ag, and 120 ppm Hg. After cyanide leaching of the feed at pH 10.4, 80% of the total mercury (in the form of cinnabar and metacinnabar) goes to the tailings dam. In this research, separation of mercury from the tailings by flotation was investigated. The effects of collector type and dosage, pH, and the number of cleaner stages were studied. The results showed that after two stages of cleaning a 40–62% recovery of Hg at a grade of 14.3% Hg is attainable. Recycle water from a test in which 50 g/t amyl xanthate and 30 g/t pine oil was used in the flotation stage showed no adverse effect on the leaching and adsorption of gold onto activated carbon.IntroductionMercury, most commonly found in the nature as the mineral cinnabar (HgS), is a hazardous substance because of its mobility and toxicity (Kyle et al., 2012). Roasting is the wellestablished treatment method for mercury ores, in which the sulphur is burned and volatilized and mercury recovered subsequently by cooling and condensation. However, for low-grade ores, flotation is mainly applied for primary concentration due to its comparatively low costs, low environmental hazards, and flexibility regarding feed variations (Bulatovic, 2007). Particularly, cinnabar can be easily recovered by flotation using pine oil and a collector such as xanthate (Bulatovic, 2007; Crozier, 1991). Floatability of cinnabar is reduced due to surface oxidation when it is exposed to the atmosphere after crushing. This problem can be eliminated by adding copper sulphate and lead nitrate or acetate. The best pH for cinnabar flotation is in the range of 6.5 to 8.5 according to Erspamer and Wells, (1954), who reported that cinnabar and stibnite can be floated with long-chain xanthate collectors and an alcohol frother, with cumulative recoveries of 97.8% and 94.7%, respectively. Lead acetate was used as an activator."

Jan 1, 2017

By C. K. Chabedi

"This paper discusses the difficulties associated with the potential exploitation of the deep multi-seam resources east of the Daarby fault in the Waterberg coalfield. The resources occur at a depth greater than 250 m and the thickness of the coal is roughly 110 m, but the top 50 m comprises coal intercalated with shale and the bottom 60 m contains five seams with sandstone and shale partings. Various factors affecting multiple seam mining at these great depths are discussed with reference to lessons learned from local and international experience on multi-seam mining. Field geological and geotechnical data was utilized to assess the stability of the roof of the seams. There is no specific rock mass rating for the Waterberg area, therefore approximate coal mine roof rating (CMRR) values were used to propose appropriate support strategies. Analysis of Multiple Seam Stability (AMSS) was used to analyse the strength of the parting or interburden between the various seams, the mining sequence, and the interaction between the various seams.The research indicated that it is possible to mine seams with a low CMRR at high mining rates using longwall mining, although support for gateroads is expected to be expensive, time-consuming and onerous to install, and will impact gateroad development rates. It will not be possible to simultaneously mine zones in close proximity and failure of the interburden is predicted, thus dangerous mining conditions are anticipated. However, it will be possible to mine just two of the eleven zones using longwall mining. IntroductionThis paper discusses the difficulties associated with the potential exploitation of the deep multi-seam resources east of the Daarby fault in the Waterberg coalfield using bord and pillar and longwall mining. Figure 1 illustrates the location of the Waterberg coalfield relative to other coalfields in South Africa, while Figure 2 shows the areas containing deep and shallow resources. The Waterberg resources are expected to contribute to South Africa’s future energy requirements, and are currently exploited at the Grootegeluk open pit mine. Grootegeluk produces coal mainly for a power station, with the higher quality product supplied as metallurgical coal. The deposit is technically unique and challenging, being a multi-seam coal deposit with a total of 12 seams over a thickness of 110 m as shown in Figure 3, including Zone 5. There is currently limited knowledge on the multi-seam mining of the deep Waterberg resources. Multi-seam mining utilizing the bord and pillar method has been practised in South Africa before, but at a depth of less than 100 m in the Witbank coalfields. Multi-seam mining in thin seams has also been performed in the Natal coalfields at a depth of less than 160 m, but mostly using bord and pillar mining and secondary mining (partial pillar extraction)."

Jan 1, 2016

By R. C. W. Webber-Youngman

The mining industry in South Africa faces real challenges with regard to the reduction of safety-related incidents. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for alternative interventions in addition to other safety improvement strategies already employed on mines. It furthermore supports an existing paradigm: incident investigations. An investigation into fatalities in the South African mining industry shows that although great progress has been achieved through the reduction in fatalities in all sectors of the industry over the last few years, more can and should be done to achieve status of ?zero harm?. Fatalities and lost time injuries on mines result not only in large financial losses, but also in disruptions of mining operations in general through Section 54 stoppages to resolve the situation. The approach of the paper is therefore not to try and prove whether there is high fatality rate and/or lost time injuries, but in what way incident reconstruction simulations (IRS) can have an impact in the future prevention of such incidents. The challenge therefore lies in the utilization of pro-active systems that would show employees the possible outcomes of being exposed to certain hazards. In real life, these incidents cannot be re-enacted and in most cases we can only learn through the previous mistakes of others. A virtual reality (VR) education and training system will enable employees to be ?exposed? to different hazards in a safe environment, and simulation, in a ?forgiving? environment, of the possible consequences of unsafe acts. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), unsafe acts and unsafe conditions are indirect causes of safety-related incidents, but there are also direct causes; for example, unplanned release of energy and/or hazardous material, and basic causes, for example, management safety policies, personal factors, and environmental factors. The administrative workload associated with any incident investigation places a large burden on the investigation team, and in most cases other employees are informed through vague administrative processes what the ?real cause? for the incident/accident was. New preventative strategies are often put in place without showing the employees what the real causes of the incident/accident were. This can be mitigated through the use of interactive VR simulations/animations of the hazards that they are exposed to and how to deal with them. If VR interventions are not used as proposed by this paper, the real causes and consequences of almost all fatalities and lost time injuries may never be fully understood. This paper also emphasizes what potential impact IRS could have on the prevention of future mine incidents as part and parcel of a pro-active risk prevention strategy. The intention is therefore not to replace any other risk prevention strategies, but to visually enhance the reality of the incident. Keywords virtual reality, risk management, incident reconstruction simulations, interactive safety training, usability context analysis, mine safety.

Jun 1, 2013

By L. Shoke

The aim of this study was to develop an in-house tensile testing procedure that would yield accurate and reproducible parameters as input material properties into computational models for numerical simulations of the mechanical behaviour of TM380 mild steel. To achieve this objective, we reviewed the ISO 6892:2009 tensile testing standard along with reported good practice guidelines. Tensile tests were conducted on a dog-bone shaped TM380 mild steel specimen with strain gauges attached on either side, to monitor alignment and measure strain, using three different types of tensile testing machines. Parameters quantified included yield stress, ultimate tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity. The values of these parameters were found to be in agreement with the values supplied by the manufacturer's specification and showed minimal variations between laboratories. Thus it can be concluded that the tensile test procedure used resulted in accurate and reproducible results. The strain values calculated as per standard were in disagreement with those determined from extensometer and strain gauges and resulted in lower elastic modulus values. This confirms that the current testing procedures require the use of long-range strain gauges or extensometer to determine the strain. A chemical analysis was conducted to verify the specification by the manufacturer. The specimen was found to be fairly homogeneous with minor sulphide inclusions. The micrographs reveal a pearlite and ferrite structure typical of mild steel, and the fractographs show a dimpled surface typical of ductile fracture, which is an attribute of mild steel.

Jan 1, 2013

By J. Gholamnejad

Determination of the optimum production schedules over the life of a mine is a critical mechanism in open pit mine planning procedures. Long-term production scheduling is used to maximize the net present value of the project under technical, financial, and environmental constraints. Mathematical programming models are well suited for optimizing long-term production schedules of open pit mines. There are two approaches to solving long-term production problems: deterministic- and uncertainty- based approaches. Deterministic-based models are unable to deal with grade and geological uncertainties, which are two important sources of risk in mining industries. This may lead to discrepancies between actual production obtained by these algorithms and planning expectations. In this paper, a new binary integer programming model was developed for long-term production scheduling that incorporates geological uncertainty within the orebody. Then, traditional and uncertainty-based models are applied to an iron ore deposit. Results showed that the uncertainty-based approach yields more practical schedules than traditional approaches in terms of production targets.

Jan 1, 2012

By H. Ruthert

An understanding of wear in systems conveying solids is extremely important from the standpoints of design and economics. The lifetime of any bulk solids-handling system depends on the type of solids present and the operating parameters of the transportation system. The relationship between wear in backfill pipelines on South African gold mines and the transportation system's operating parameters is well understood. However, the effect of the transported solids on the pipe wear is less well understood, because of an inability to characterize particle sharpness. The sharpness of the particles, together with their size and hardness, is responsible for the aggressivity of particles, or their ability to cause damage and wear. This paper presents a novel method for the characterization of particle sharpness. The results presented rank particles according to the sharpness of their surfaces.

Jan 1, 1993

By D. Van Dyk

Horizontal rotating mills are being used all over the world in different mineral and power generation industries. David Brown South Africa, with over 140 years of experience in gear manufacture and design, has been supplying these industries with innovative designs at exceptional quality. The gearing systems associated with these industries are challenged daily with operating conditions that are not always fully understood. Failures are therefore experienced, over time in the industry, which cannot always be fully explained. David Brown South Africa has developed a gear monitoring system, the Intelligent Gearing System, in association with Transmission Dynamics (UK), in order to monitor and analyse these operating conditions in real time. The system has been designed on the principles of Six Sigma, incorporating Design for Six Sigma. The purpose with this system design is to monitor the operating conditions on the pinion, record the information and analyse the data in relation to the rate of fatigue damage to the girth gear and pinion. This is done in real time and unattended. The output from the Intelligent Gearing System can be fed back into the operating system of the mill user, in order to display an alarm for operating conditions exceeding the design criteria as well as information on the rate of fatigue damage due to these operating conditions. When the mill operating and the effect on the fatigue life of the mill gearing components, conditions are better understood, mill users can forecast critical spare holding levels with an increased accuracy. The Intelligent Gearing System also allows early actions to remove reasons for system overloads.

Jan 1, 2006

By E. J. Magri

Consideration is given to the problem of the estimation, from limited data, of the likely grade and tonnage for a new mining property that is to be exploited by the selective mining of two metals that have substantial contributions to make to the total revenue. In particular, the case of a new gold and uranium mine in South Africa is analysed as follows. (I) The applicability of the underlying lognormal bivariate model for different support (i.e. ore unit) sizes is examined. (2) The necessary parameters for the bivariate lognormal models for different block sizes are estimated from abundant chipsampling data from a section of the Hartebeestfontein Gold Mine using alternative approaches, and the results are compared. (3) A method is given for obtaining the necessary parameters for a tonnage-grade relationship relative to a joint pay limit from the very limited information likely to be available at the end of the exploration stage of a gold mine, and the results are compared with those obtained from the large volume of data available from a minedout area.

Jan 1, 1982

By E. Van Der Lingen

Within the context of the overall gold market industrial demand plays an important role. Industrial demand for gold was 430 tonnes in 2008, approximately 12% of total end-user consumption. The dominant consuming industry in this market for gold remains the electronics sector, consuming an estimated 300 tonnes, primarily through the use of gold bonding wire for computer chips and plated contacts and connectors. Substantial demand also derives from dental applications, with other smaller industrial markets and decorative uses of the metal (non-jewellery) constituting the balance. In each market gold faces tough competition from alternative lower cost materials, such as silver and copper (electronics) and ceramics (dental). As well as the obvious benefits to the gold market resulting from this constant physical demand, there are an umber of additional positive factors concerning the use of gold in industrial applications: ?Price inelasticity: demand for gold from the major consuming industries has so far proven to be relatively robust in the face of significant increases in gold price. ??Stickiness?: the gold consumed by industrial uses tends not to return easily to the market (i.e. the demand is ?sticky?) because it is highly dispersed. ?Image: the beneficial environmental and medical applications of gold (e.g. gold used in the treatment of prostate cancer and in purification of contaminated water) are helpful to the positive image of gold. ?Added-value: new industrial uses for gold can create substantial added value in the supply chain, particularly in gold producing countries.

Jan 1, 2009

By S. Kahraman

The prediction of rock properties from indirect testing methods is important, particularly for preliminary investigations since indirect tests are easier and cheaper than the direct tests. In this study, we investigate the predictability of the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and Brazilian tensile strength (BTS) of rocks from the indentation hardness index (IHI) obtained using point load apparatus. Forty-six different rock types, 14 of which were igneous, 15 were metamorphic, and 17 were sedimentary were tested in the laboratory. The UCS and BTS values were correlated with the corresponding IHI values and the results were statistically analysed. The influence of rock classes on the relationships was also investigated. A strong correlation between UCS and IHI was found for all data. The correlation between BTS and IHI is not as strong as the correlation between UCS and IHI. However, it is in the acceptable limits. When the regression analyses were repeated for igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, the correlation coefficients were generally increased. The results show the UCS and BTS can be estimated from IHI. In addition, the effect of rock classes on the relationships between IHI and both UCS and BTS is important.

Jan 1, 2012

By B. Talbot

How this simple plant generates a large revenue stream. The concept behind the Tailings Scavenging Plant (TSP) is simple: it is a non-complicated modular plant which is designed to be more stable than upstream plants. This, plus the use of ?high energy?, enables the plant to recover any metal missed by the upstream operation. Impala Platinum?Mineral process started pilot plant exercises in June 2003. The pilot plant ran for one year before the capital for the full-scale plant was approved. This year was used to motivate, design and cost a full-scale plant. The metal produced during the pilot and feasibility study enabled this part of the project to run at a small profit. The scale-up to full-scale was relatively simple as the pilot plant had a capacity of 180 m3/hrand the full-scale plant was designed for a capacity of 550 m3/h. The design for the full scale plant was completed in May 2003, with ground breaking taking place on 19 May 2003. The construction phase of the project went well with the commissioning of the first two modules taking place on 22 October 2003. The remaining two modules were commissioned two weeks later. The plant was at full capacity by the 20 November 2003. A review of the plants performance for the first 5 production months is as follows: the plant has required only a few minor modifications and additions, it has run well in excess of 95%availability with no major wear apparent. In addition to this, the plant has produced 3 times the metal forecast.

Jan 1, 2004

By M. Gao

The Zinifex Century Mine employs a large number of Detritor mills for fine and ultra-fine grinding to liberate silica and sphalerite at 80 per cent passing 7.5 microns before final zinc flotation. A joint project between CSIRO Minerals and the Zinifex Century Mine was carried out to evaluate the Detritor mill performance. Plant surveys were conducted around the Detritors in conjunction with laboratory tests. The survey data showed that the Detritors in the ultra-fine milling circuit performed well. They reduced a feed F80 sizing of 46 microns to a product P80 sizing of 7.5 microns at a gross energy consumption of 37.2 kWh/t. Scale-up of ultra-fine milling Detritors was studied using a 0.55 kW laboratory batch unit and a 355 kW full-scale Detritor by processing Century zinc concentrate with 1 mm sand media. The results indicated that the 0.55 kW laboratory mill underestimated the energy consumption of the full-scale Detritor by about 20 per cent for a product P80 of seven microns. The performances of a horizontal IsaMill and a vertical Detritor were compared as ultra-fine milling devices for processing Century zinc concentrate. The experimental data demonstrated that, when using the same grinding media, the energy efficiency of the two mills is similar despite the difference in mill designs. The Detritors used for regrind duty at the Century Mine performed poorly when processing feed at 80 per cent passing 88 micron. The energy consumption was high and the product size distribution was broad with particles above 100 microns in the feed unbroken and particles below ten microns overground. A coarser ceramic media of 3 mm was therefore tested in a laboratory Detritor to process the regrind Detritor feed as an alternative to the 1 mm Colorado sand used at the Century Mine. The ceramic media reduced the energy consumption significantly and produced a narrower product size distribution, which is more desirable for the downstream flotation process.

Jan 1, 2007

Deciding on plant-scale reagent dosage regimes and air rates is a topic of ongoing investigation and high importance. The current work explains some techniques that have proven useful in deciding on plant-scale flotation operating regimes. Specific focus has been placed on the reagents: frother and depressant, as well as some discussion around the control of air rate and froth depth. Air rate has been selected based on its effects on the froth phase. Froth velocity and froth height above the cell lip are the two variables measured and used to select the operating air rate. Pulp level is then adjusted to increase or decrease mass pull. A technique has been developed using the Anglo Platinum Bubble Sizer on an industrial flotation cell to determine the relationship between bubble size and frother concentration. This technique has been extended to measure the equivalent frother concentration or frothabilities of various streams on a rougher bank. A mass balance for frother was performed successfully, and this provided a better understanding of the way frother moved in the rougher bank. With this knowledge, more informed decisions can be made about frother addition required in subsequent flotation stages. For depressant, a new protocol for deciding on dosage rate has been developed. The depressant dosage should be based on the amount of fresh feed material reporting to a bank. Currently 400 g/t of fresh feed has been assumed a reasonable starting point with promising results. Improved froth stability and grades were observed. There is scope for more accurately defining the optimal dosage rate. Importantly, the combined effect of changing the chemistry and the hydrodynamics together has been demonstrated. A significant upward shift in the grade-recovery relationship for a cleaner bank was observed.

Jan 1, 2012

By S. M. Brabyn

The wear in mild steel pipelines used to convey rod-milled waste backfill was determined and then compared with that obtained using a laboratory rig designed to simulate the wear condition in slurry pipelines. The relative importance of corrosion and abrasion was investigated under various conditions of water quality and particle size distribution. The laboratory rig was then used to evaluate other possible materials of construction for backfill pipelines. A preliminary assessment of the economic viability of pipelines made of alternative materials is included.

Jan 1, 1988

By H. E. Bartlett

Previously, the grade of ore at the shaft head was taken to be equivalent to the grade measured in the faces by means of chip sampling. The tonnage mined from the stopes is determined from survey volumetric measurements. Estimates of shaft head grade and tons include the grades and tons of waste, development ore, sweepings from old areas, and other sources, not all of which are sampled. The tonnage of ore delivered at the shaft is often estimated using skip factors. These factors are subject to manipulation and not all the skips are filled to the same level. Consequently, both the grade and tonnage of ore delivered at shaft head are subject to a measure of uncertainty. For many years, these uncertainties have led to disputes between shaft managers and metallurgists over the reconciliation between shaft tons and grade and plant tons and grade. These problems are compounded when several shafts feed a central processing plant. Shaft bonuses and a shaft?s profitability are affected by poor gold allocation methods. Without measurement of the grade and tonnage from all shafts, a poorly performing shaft could benefit at the expense of the other shafts. In order to improve the measurement of grades and tonnage at the shaft head, which is the custody transfer point between the mine and surface operations, South African mining companies have developed a methodology to measure the mass of ore from each shaft using rail weighing equipment, and the run-of-mine grades delivered from each shaft using cross-stream (go-belt) sampling. Harmony Gold Mining Company has implemented the rail weighing and go-belt sampling methods for their shafts. This paper deals with the statistical tests on the procedures and control measures that are in place to establish confidence in the gold allocations. The metal accounting system for examining the allocations follows the first principle of the AMIRA P754 Metal Accounting Code of Practice namely ?The metal accounting system must be based on accurate measurements of mass and metal content. It must be based on a full check-in check-out system?. The check-in is mass and grade of run-of-mine ore and the check-outs are the plant input grades and the recovery and residue from the plant. The balances between check-in and check-out are the subject of the statistical analyses, which have been conducted using the classical statistical tests and procedures that are generally used in all fields of endeavour. It is concluded that the gold allocation procedures that rely on go-belt sampling and rail weighing of ore from shafts has been successfully implemented, and that the system, which has been in operation at Harmony since 1993, has won general acceptance from stakeholders, with the gold allocations being perceived as being fair to all. Apart from the on-mine issues of bonuses and fair allocations, accurate metal accounting assists in the broader issues of generating accurate production figures for management. An added benefit of weighing and sampling ore at the shaft head has been that shafts now have daily moving average grades, which are used for grade control. The go-belt sample at the shaft head is the first accurate sample of production in the value chain from face sampling to gold bullion. Keywords metal accounting, go-belt sampling, run-of-mine sampling, codes of practice, AMIRA P754, train weighing, statistical analysis, gold split, allocation of gold, metal balance, grade control.

Jan 1, 2014

The Barrick North Mara Mine and the Advanced Systems Group at SGS Minerals collaborated on the implementation of a grinding expert system for the control and optimisation of a single semi autogenous (SAG) mill. Over the last 5 years, grinding expert control has gained wide acceptance by mineral processors. In this paper, two key factors for success are highlighted: the adaptability of the software tools and the interaction with site personnel. Created with SGS?s MET expert console (MEC) toolkit, and running on Gensym?s G2 real time inference software, the North Mara expert logic has been set up to keep a steady and on spec leaching feed slurry while striving to maximize throughput. Leach feed stability was achieved by standardizing operating practices across shifts; a result of successful collaboration with site personnel in developing a consistent control strategy. The strategy maintains the SAG load and power draw in an optimised range by manipulating SAG feed rates and inlet water flow. The project life-cycle was slightly longer than average due to site specific constraints. One of these was the high turnover rate of site?s workforce during the project, coupled with the availability of key staff on site due to the fly in fly out work roster. These constraints called for different, and innovative ways of project commissioning and hand-over. This paper describes details of the control solution, its implementation as well as results and conclusions.

Jan 1, 2009

The Namakwa Sands heavy mineral deposit is located along the West Coast of South Africa and the mine is a world class producer of high quality zircon, ilmenite and rutile concentrates from essentially unconsolidated marine and aeolian sands of Cainozoic age. The objective of this study was to characterize rutile with respect to distribution, grain size, textures, colour and mineral chemistry within the Namakwa Sands orebody with the aim to explain its overall poor recovery. A representative suite of heavy mineral concentrates from various sections of the orebody and stages in the recovery circuit has been investigated microscopically and by means of SEM-EDS and LA-ICP-MS. The rutile grain size distribution displays a wide range and is directly related to its variable chemistry and consequently density. In placer deposits such as Namakwa Sands, mineral sorting is a function of hydraulic equivalence, and high density grains are smaller than the lighter grains when deposited under similar conditions. Grain size is also a function of sediment maturity, and the highly mature red aeolians and (RAS) component of the deposit has a coarser grain size than the less mature orange feldspathic marine sands (OFS). The above primary characteristics of rutile are responsible for the loss of the coarse-grained fraction during screening and, given the empirically determined relationship that increased substitution elements reduce conductivity, also during electrostatic separation. Provenance studies using geothermometry have shown that the heavy mineral suite has been sourced mainly by the proximal medium-to high-grade Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex. The positive relationship between substitution elements and temperature of formation explains their high concentration in rutile of this deposit. The heterogeneity of rutile, produced by the combination of a high temperature primary source and the typical marine-aeolian placer genesis is deposit specific and unfortunately not conducive to high recovery levels in the current Namakwa Sands beneficiation circuit.

Jan 1, 2010