is the python right for me? python amenability test work gravity gold 2010 tim hughes, ken...
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Is the Python Right for Me?Python Amenability Test Work
Gravity Gold 2010
Tim Hughes, Ken Donaldson, Ben Murphy
Outline
• Underground Processing and Python• Python Flowsheet• Testing for Python
– VSI Amenability– Continuous Gravity Recovery– Flotation
Underground Gold Processing
Potential Benefits
• Haulage reduction• Less waste handling• Smaller surface
footprint• Lower cut off grade
•Designed for mobility and flexibility•Pre-concentration focus•5 dry modules, 6 wet modules, 2 electrical
The Python
Why Gravity and Flotation?
Combined Size by Size Unit Gold
Recoveries of IPJ and Flash Flotation
0102030405060
size um
% r
eco
very
flash
IPJ
Python Amenability Testing
• Mineralogy• Bond Impact Crushing Work Index• Bond Abrasion Index• Vertical Shaft Impactor Amenability• Continuous Gravity Recovery• Flotation Recovery• Concentrate Treatment• Concentrate Handling• Tailings Testing
Python Throughput
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
0 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800
Feed
rate
tp
h
Final Crush Size (P80 µm)
Python 500 Expected Feedrate vs Crush Size and VSI Amenability
High VSI Low VSI Site"A" Nominal Plant Limit
Single Pass VSI Amenability Test
VSI Single Pass Amenability Test
0
10
20
30
40
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60
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90
100
10 100 1000 10000 100000
Particle Size (microns)
Cum
ulat
ive
% P
assi
ng
FEED SAMPLE1 SAMPLE2
Continuous Gravity Recovery Test
Table Test
Table Test
Cleaner TableVSI P100
600µm
P100 ~ 1.18mm
Conc.
Tail
Tail
Tail
Conc.
Conc.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Yield
Reco
very
Au Distribution
S Distribution
Ag Distribution
Gravity Yield-Recovery Curve
Flotation Testing
• Bulk float
• Typical Reagents:
PAX, CuSO4 and frother
• 4 x 30s concentrates
• 2 x 5min concentrates
– ultimate recovery
• Yield - Recovery
Flotation of Gravity Tails
Combined Recovery Yield Curve
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Yield
Rec
ove
ryAuDistributionS Distribution
AsDistribution
Gravity Recovery Yield Curve
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Yield
Re
co
ve
ry
AuDistributionS Distribution
AsDistribution
Recovery by Gravity
Gold recovery by gravity only 81% into ~15% mass
Combined gravity and float recovery around 96% Au into ~15% mass
Flotation recovery-yield data
Combined Gravity and Flotation
Gravity Only vs Gravity + Flotation RecoveryAll Gekko Data
0
10
20
30
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60
70
80
90
100
1 11
21
31
41
51
61
71
81
91
101
Site
Go
ld R
ec
ov
ery
%
Gravity+Flotation
Gravity Only
>90% Recovery
Summary
• Underground pre-concentration has a number of operational benefits and savings.
• Gekko’s Python utilises fine crushing, gravity separation and flotation to maximise these benefits.
• Gekko has developed a robust group of laboratory tests to assess an ore’s suitability for Python processing.
• A large proportion of ores tested have been amenable to the Python flowsheet.