The route depends on where the gold is
Two ores with the same head grade can require completely different plants. Coarse liberated gold in quartz may respond well to staged gravity recovery. Fine gold associated with sulphides may need a flotation or leaching route. Weathered ore can behave differently from fresh ore from the same deposit.
That is why a crusher, ball mill and concentrator package is not a complete process design. The route must define how much size reduction is required, where gravity recovery should occur, how circulating load is controlled and what happens to gold that gravity does not recover.
Gravity recovery is valuable when it removes the right material
Recovering liberated gold early can reduce inventory, shorten exposure to downstream losses and create a high-grade product. It works best when the feed stream is controlled and the concentrator is integrated into the grinding circuit.
Feeding an unclassified, unstable or excessively dilute stream into a centrifugal concentrator can make an otherwise suitable machine perform poorly. The surrounding circuit matters as much as the separator.
Detailed design needs representative test data
An initial assessment can identify a plausible flowsheet and the tests still required. Equipment sizing and performance expectations should be based on representative samples, throughput assumptions, hardness, water balance and the intended operating schedule.
We do not publish a universal recovery percentage. Any project result must be tied to the ore, grind size, test method and operating conditions that produced it.
Typical process logic
- 01
Characterize the ore
Combine assays, mineral observations and representative test work to identify where the gold occurs.
- 02
Crush in stages
Reduce top size reliably while controlling fines, recirculating load and downstream feed consistency.
- 03
Grind to a justified size
Target the liberation needed for the selected recovery route instead of grinding finer by habit.
- 04
Recover gravity gold
Remove recoverable liberated gold at the correct point in the grinding circuit when tests support it.
- 05
Select the downstream route
Evaluate flotation, leaching or combined treatment only when mineralogy and test results justify the added complexity.
Equipment roles, not a shopping list
Jaw and secondary crushers
Create a controlled mill feed through staged reduction, screening and recirculation.
Ball mill and classifier
Establish the particle-size distribution needed for liberation and maintain a stable circulating load.
Centrifugal concentrator
Recovers suitable liberated gravity gold from a controlled stream, commonly within the grinding circuit.
Shaking table
Cleans a small, pre-concentrated gravity product; it is not normally the primary machine for unclassified mill feed.
Frequently asked questions
Is gravity concentration enough for every hard rock gold ore?
No. Gravity can recover liberated high-density gold, but gold locked in sulphides or fine mineral associations may require flotation, leaching or another tested route.
How fine should the ore be ground?
The target grind should be selected from liberation and recovery tests. Grinding finer than necessary increases power, wear and slime production.
Can you provide flotation or leaching test work?
Our stable in-house focus is gravity amenability testing. Additional flotation or leaching programs are coordinated with suitable laboratories when the project requires them.