Rock Gold Ore Beneficiation Methods and Equipment

As one of the main forms of gold resources, hard rock gold ore is characterized by its large reserves and wide distribution. Compared to placer gold deposits, the mining and beneficiation of hard rock gold ore are more complex. This article mainly introduces the beneficiation methods for hard rock gold and the required equipment.

I. Crushing

Run-of-mine ore must undergo two-stage crushing. The primary crushing stage generally uses a Jaw Crusher. Its powerful crushing force can efficiently break hard rock gold ore. The secondary crushing of hard rock gold ore is usually completed by a Cone Crusher. The cone crusher utilizes the principle of laminated crushing, resulting in a more uniform product size.

II. Grinding

Grinding is used to liberate the gold particles from the host rock and is a key step affecting the beneficiation efficiency of hard rock gold ore. An overflow-type Ball Mill is used for wet grinding. With the impact and grinding action of steel balls, the material can be ground to a fineness of around 200 mesh. To precisely control the grinding fineness, the ball mill often operates in a closed circuit with a Spiral Classifier, ensuring adequate liberation of the gold.

III. Gravity Separation

Gravity separation is the core method for hard rock gold beneficiation. Commonly used gravity separation equipment includes: Jigs, Vibrating Sluices, and Centrifugal Concentrators.

The pulsating water flow generated by a Sawtooth Wave Jig causes the bed to loosen and then compact. Heavier gold particles penetrate the gaps in the bed and settle to the bottom, thereby achieving the rough concentration of the hard rock gold ore.

The Vibrating Sluice is mainly used to recover gold from the tailings of the jig. By combining mechanical vibration with gravity settling, it significantly improves the recovery rate of fine gold particles from the tailings.

The Centrifugal Concentrator utilizes a high-strength centrifugal force field to intensify the separation process, offering unique advantages for recovering ultra-fine gold particles from the tailings of the vibrating sluice.

IV. Flotation (for Oxidized Hard Rock Gold Ore)

For some oxidized hard rock gold ores, flotation is an important supplementary method. Using a Mechanical Agitation Flotation Machine and by adjusting the floatability of the minerals, gold particles are made to attach to air bubbles and rise to the surface, thus achieving efficient separation of gold from the gangue.

The beneficiation methods for hard rock gold ore can be summarized as processes including crushing, grinding, gravity separation, and flotation.