Impact Deflector Sluices

These were developed by a team of Australian engineers and are mainly utilized in big deposits with mineral content by law, in Australia and Africa and are used to recuperate cassiterite, lime, zircon etc. Impact deflector sluices is the result of the direct relationship between the percentages of contained solids in a pulp and the percentage of heavy minerals that are existent in a defined volume. As soon as the initial feeding of the pulp to the cone systems has been carried out in a defined time and geometric space that is somewhat short, it is formed by natural sedimentation of the heavier particles to a lower canal and the same, directed against a deflector that has a aerodynamic shape that’s function is to divide the layers of mineralized substances in concentrates and pre concentrates. It is obvious that the more the content of percentages of concentrates in a pulp, there will be less of a need for it to pass through the sluices, when the percentage of two heavy materials is small, separations of semi concentrate is done that successively will pass through the sluices in series, obtaining a recovery of heavier material in the order of 90 to 95 percent and 60 to 75 percent in concentrates. The advantage of utilizing these apparatuses in the exploitation of auriferous placer deposits of lower value of recovery in relation to the conventional plants can be seen in the lower investment costs of 35 to 40 percent.

Factors of control and efficiency in the operation:

• Control of pulp viscosity and acidity
• Adjustment of the angle of the deflector
• Adjustment in the inclination of the sluices
• Control of the feeding of solid gravel materials uniformly

These are made up in fibreglass, covered in rubber, and mounted on a metallic structure that can be easily transported. The deflectors are put together in series and in parallel.

Capacity: It can normally treat from 75 to 80 tons per hour, and recover in the mesh + 10 y – 200.

Sluices. This was developed originally in Egypt by engineers of Nasser to separate heavy sediments or mineral particles contained in a pulp in movement and in a defined fluid. It was designed based on the laws of Stokes, Newton and Reynold, and the second law of movement, intervening as factors:

• Speed and diameter of the particles
• Resistance to the movement of the particles
• Specific weight
• Viscosity of the fluid
• Consistency and factors of correction

In practice, the recovery obtained up to 85 percent and the volume of the pulp that was processed in the order of 5 tons per hour, showing therefore its limit to dealing with greater volumes that would bring about more optimal results.