Handling Concentrates - A Sticky Problem

The passage of an ore pulp through the froth flotation process results in the production, after dewatering, of a finely divided concentrate. This intermediate product must be handled to the subsequent process facilities via beit or other types of conveyors, hoppers, bins, chutes and feeders, and the like. Flotation concentrate has some difficult handling properties such as abrasiveness, sluggishness when moist, or fluidity when dry. These characteristics require the judicious selection or design of handling equipment and the careful engineering of transfer chutes. It is to the special problems which are encountered in this in-plant handling procedure that this paper is addressed. The methods which will be discussed have been developed primarily for the handling of the froth flotation concentrates of copper, lead, and taconite iron ores, but may be generalized, with appropriate modifications, to apply to other similar metallic concentrates. The controlled feeding of concentrates from bins and hoppers is covered along with some of the techniques used to transfer concentrates from one belt conveyor to another. Methods are described for unloading belt conveyors into bins or storage piles. The reclamation from storage piles is also treated.