Using a Vertical Shaft Impactor (VSI) for size reduction, offers a more efficient alternative to grinding in various applications. Traditional grinding technologies like SAG mills tend to be highly energy inefficient, with less than five percent of the total energy used for rock breakage. However, in cases where mineral liberation characteristics allow for coarser liberation, adopting fine crushing technologies and eliminating grinding can be advantageous. The VSI is an excellent choice in this regard.
The VSI has been successfully implemented across a number of Gekko designed flowsheets
The VSI employs a high-speed impact breakage mechanism to liberate minerals at the grain boundaries. The VSI utilises increased acceleration over mass to increase the force thus improving rock breakage. Fine crushing combined with screening can promote beneficiation in certain ore types allowing valuable minerals to be recovered through gravity and flotation processes downstream.
For ores that are amenable to pre-concentration and exhibit fractures along the mineral/grain boundaries, including critical minerals such as tantalite, cassiterite and scheelite, we recommend combining the unique InLine Pressure Jig (IPJ) with a Fines Crushing circuit (VSI) to create a front-end flowsheet which promotes a reduced downstream water and energy requirement and a reduced overall plant footprint. This will recover the heavy mineral at a coarser size through the IPJ and allow more efficient water recovery from the tailing streams.
To achieve the best results, we advise laboratory test work for all mineral and metal deposits. This enables the identification of optimum liberation data and gravity separation characteristics specific to each deposit. The critical data obtained from these test work programs enables Gekko’s in-house process design team to develop efficient recovery flowsheets tailored to the unique requirements of each deposit type. The IPJ can be combined downstream with flotation to optimise mineral recovery.
Contact us to discuss the implementation of the VSI and IPJ in your flowsheet.
