Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Beneficiation is a crucial process in mineral processing, aimed at improving the concentration of valuable minerals while removing unwanted gangue material. This is achieved through various physical and chemical methods. The efficiency of a beneficiation plant is often evaluated based on parameters like recovery rate and concentrate grade. Understanding these parameters and their interplay is vital for optimizing mineral extraction processes. This question tests the application of these concepts to a specific scenario involving copper ore beneficiation.
Calculation of Copper Recovered
First, we need to determine the total amount of copper present in the ore feed.
- Ore tonnage: 12000 tons
- Copper grade in ore: 0.8 wt.%
- Total copper in ore = 12000 tons * 0.008 = 96 tons
Calculation of Copper Recovered to Concentrate
Next, we calculate the amount of copper recovered in the concentrate, considering the recovery rate.
- Ore recovery: 80%
- Copper recovered = 96 tons * 0.80 = 76.8 tons
Calculation of Concentrate Tonnage
Finally, we calculate the tonnage of the concentrate, knowing the copper grade in the concentrate.
- Copper grade in concentrate: 25 wt.%
- Concentrate tonnage = Copper recovered / Copper grade in concentrate
- Concentrate tonnage = 76.8 tons / 0.25 = 307.2 tons
Therefore, the beneficiation plant will produce 307.2 tons of ore concentrate in a day.
Summary of Calculations
| Parameter | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Ore Tonnage | 12000 | tons |
| Ore Cu Grade | 0.8 | wt.% |
| Total Cu in Ore | 96 | tons |
| Ore Recovery | 80 | % |
| Recovered Cu | 76.8 | tons |
| Concentrate Cu Grade | 25 | wt.% |
| Concentrate Tonnage | 307.2 | tons |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the beneficiation plant processing 12000 tons of 0.8 wt.% copper ore with an 80% recovery rate will produce 307.2 tons of ore concentrate containing 25 wt.% Cu daily. This calculation highlights the importance of recovery rate and concentrate grade in determining the overall efficiency of a mineral processing operation. Optimizing these parameters is crucial for maximizing metal recovery and minimizing waste.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.