Underground heavy media separation - who is doing it?
Underground heavy media separation - who is doing it?
(OP)
Does anyone know of a mine that is doing heavy media separation underground? as I understand, it is when the ore is crushed down to 6mm and the waste rock is separated before it is hoisted (or pumped) to surface.
thanks,
thanks,





RE: Underground heavy media separation - who is doing it?
I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but there are some Uranium mines that do this (or something like it): Cameco's McArthur River and Cigar Lake for example.
Refer to the following link for more information http://tinyurl.com/oorxn
I read a paper a couple of years ago that described the process (underground grinding/milling, pumping to surface, etc.). You might be able to search for the paper by googling "McArthur River".
Good Luck and Cheers,
CanuckMiner
RE: Underground heavy media separation - who is doing it?
Cheers
Andy
RE: Underground heavy media separation - who is doing it?
I'm actually in Sudbury, never heard of it here, though I'm not involved with these types of systems. Do you know which mines? I'm trying to learn more about it from the operations.
RE: Underground heavy media separation - who is doing it?
Kivi, are the Cameco operations that I cited along the lines of what you are looking for? I was also involved in some preliminary investigations into this subject for a Placer Dome property in Nevada a few years ago (it didn't go ahead).
I think it has always been the miner's dream to do the milling underground. It cuts down on ore transportation and handling costs, and reduces surface infrastructure. However, to my knowledge, it has not proven economical for base metal mines.
Cheers,
CanuckMiner
RE: Underground heavy media separation - who is doing it?
We've put in some reasonable-sized DMS plant in South Africa, for the platinum industry: Aquarius's Kroondaal Platinum is a good case study. Also, Lion Ore are moving ahead with a DMS plant at Tati Nickel (Botswana) -ref: ht
RE: Underground heavy media separation - who is doing it?
Kivi,
RE: Underground heavy media separation - who is doing it?
found out that Sullivan Mine in BC and Nanasivik on Baffin Island used it, but both are now closed, also that coal mines, some gypsum mines use it and the diamond mines.
RE: Underground heavy media separation - who is doing it?