Gravimetric Concentration

In order to obtain an optimal recovery in the processing of placer type minerals in a treatment plant, any of the methods that are chosen the following parameters will need to be controlled:

Gravel particle sizing
The study of the gravel particle sizing of the auriferous gravel that can be found in the alluvial bench is fundamental for selecting the type of classifier amongst which can be found thick and thin (crosscurrent sieves, vibrating sieves, trommel and so forth).

Specific gravity of the gravel
It is important to determine this element for the effects of metallurgic balance, even though to be able to determine the ratio it is not necessary to express it in tons since the laws in an alluvial gold deposit are normally done in Grs.Au/m3 not in Grs.Au/M.T.

Particle sizing of gold
It is important to have a good knowledge of the particle sizing of metallic gold that varies in size in one area and another, since it distances from the area of its origin it tends to each time turn into microscopic gold and its recovery requires of a much more advanced technology, especially in porous and laminated gold in a microscopic state where it acquires the tendency of rejecting water. The particles of gold under the Corey Factor (0.15) tend to float; therefore, its recovery through conventional methods of gravimetry is almost nonexistent. Corey Factor: Fc = e + 1 x a, where e is the thickness; 1, the length; and a, the width.

Stream flow
The adequate supply of the amount of water to the plant is very important, especially in the plants that are fundamentally based on the gravimetric principles. The treatment capacity is largely controlled by the capacity of the main canal in function to the water depth, in other words, we need to allow a minimum amount of water to pass in order to deposit the most amount of gold, in the same way the amount of sand and thickness of the class.

Load volume
The amount of mineral load, from the moment the washing of the material begins, goes on to constitute the circulating pulp through all the washing circuit in close relation to the lineal parameters previously mentioned including the study of the gradient.

Gradient study
The ideal pendant for the adequate function of a spout is complex to determine in a theoretic method due to the fact that this function is directly related to a series of variables that have already been mentioned, and this would then determine the type of riffles that need to be used and as a consequence it is necessary to carry out experimental tests for each operation.