Column Cells As Roughers

APPLICATION:COLUMN CELLS AS ROUGHERS

Selectivity Vs. RecoveryColumns are often discounted as roughers because of the beliefs that a) mechanical cells will provide ahigher level of recovery, and, b) higher recovery provides more revenue than higher grades. For simple ores, this ismay be true. For more complex ores containing impurities which translate into additional treatment and refiningcharges, or for mines located in very remote regions, the benefit of being able to produce high grade concentrateseven at the expense of a slight reduction in recovery, may make economic sense.

Economic JustificationThe magnitude of economic benefits including the savings in capital and operating costs can vary significantlyfrom project to project and will depend on a number of factors. Some of the most important factors are listedbelow:

Improved MetallurgyFor some processes, the use of column flotation has been shown to provide higher levels of recovery orbetter concentrate grades, thus contributing significantly to the economic viability of the project.