Equipment selection guide
Orebodies differ in mineralogy, hardness, and liberation size. Choosing from a catalogue without understanding these factors leads to wrong equipment, costly downtime, and poor performance. Metallurgical testwork on your ore sample provides the data that narrows thousands of equipment options to the few suited to your specific process needs. Only then can you select with confidence.
| Category | Stage | Leading selection variables |
|---|---|---|
| Crushing Equipment | Comminution | Maximum run-of-mine feed size; Ore hardness and abrasiveness; Moisture and clay content; Target closed-side setting |
| Screening Equipment | Comminution | Aperture size; Feed size distribution; Throughput; Required screening efficiency |
| Grinding Equipment | Comminution | Bond work index or measured grinding energy; Feed and product particle size; Pulp density; Throughput |
| Classification Equipment | Comminution | Target cut size; Feed pressure and density; Slurry specific gravity; Throughput |
| Agitation Equipment | Conditioning | Tank volume and residence time; Pulp density and particle size; Slurry viscosity; Impeller type |
| Flotation Equipment | Separation | Ore floatability; Particle size; Pulp density; Cell volume |
| Gravity Separation Equipment | Separation | Density difference between minerals; Liberation size; Size range treated; Feed density |
| Magnetic Separation Equipment | Separation | Specific magnetic susceptibility of the mineral; Field strength and gradient; Particle size; Dry or wet circuit |
| Gold Extraction Equipment | Separation | Circuit type (CIP, CIL or zinc precipitation); Slurry throughput; Gold grade; Leaching residence time |
| Non-Metallic Mineral Processing Equipment | Separation | Surface contamination of the mineral; Clay content; Particle size; Scrubbing intensity |
| Thickening Equipment | Dewatering | Solids flux; Settling testwork; Feed density; Target underflow density |
| Filtration Equipment | Dewatering | Particle size; Filterability testwork; Feed density; Target cake moisture |
| Drying and Pelletizing Equipment | Dewatering | Initial and target moisture; Heat sensitivity of the material; Heat source; Residence time |
| Feeding Equipment | Material Handling | Maximum lump size; Bulk density; Moisture and stickiness; Feed capacity |
| Conveying Equipment | Material Handling | Conveying capacity; Distance and lift; Lump size and material temperature; Inclination angle |
| Steel Silos | Material Handling | Effective volume; Bulk density of the stored material; Flowability; Silo wall pressure |
| Slurry Pumps and Valves | Material Handling | Design flow and head; Slurry density and particle size; Abrasiveness and corrosiveness; Net positive suction head |
| Dust Collection Equipment | Material Handling | Air volume; Inlet dust concentration; Particle size; Temperature and humidity |
| Mine Automation and Control Systems | Control | Measuring range and accuracy; Sampling representativeness; Response time; Communication protocol |
What we need from you to size equipment
The testwork sequence begins with sample preparation and detailed mineralogical analysis to identify element composition, mineral phases, and liberation size. Exploratory tests then screen viable process routes. Condition tests follow, optimising grind, reagents, and pulp density. Locked-cycle testing validates performance before continuous pilot trials.
To begin an equipment selection study, send a representative ore sample along with target throughput, site conditions, and any known process constraints. The laboratory will design a test programme that answers your specific questions, not a generic one.
Catalogue figures are standard-model data. Capacity, cut size, cake moisture and recovery all shift with ore properties, feed gradation and circuit conditions. No number on this site is a guaranteed performance value for your ore. Sizing is confirmed by testwork, flowsheet calculation and a written confirmation from the manufacturer.
Send the duty, get a sized proposal
Tell us the ore, the throughput and the target product. Our process engineers come back with a flowsheet position, a model shortlist and the testwork we would need to confirm it.