Modern Mining January 2020

MINERAL SANDS

placed on top using FELs, dump trucks and dozers or graders, following which the area will be ready for rehabilitation. The process from scrub clearing to final rehabilitation is expected to take 3-4 years. In terms of processing, the flowsheet adopted for the WCPs uses proven spiral technology to produce a HMC grade above 90 %. The robust three-stage spiral plant design is based on bulk sample testwork conducted at Mineral Technologies’ metallurgical facilities and caters for the range of heavy minerals grades within the Ranobe deposit.

HMC from the WCP is pumped to the MSP. This will be fed at rate of 150 t/h, with the process being decoupled from the mining operation by an HMC stockpile which buffers changing ore grades and differing plant run times. Ilmenite (sulphate, chloride, slag), rutile and zircon final products will be produced at the MSP via a six-circuit flowsheet. Recoveries of 94,6 % ilmenite, 79,4 % zircon and 58,4 % rutile are anticipated. Final products will be stored in 1 000 t bins (350 t for rutile) with additional site storage Continued on page 41

Top projects The wet concentrator plant (WCP) flowsheet.

32  MODERN MINING  January 2020