Modular, drill-chip sampling plant supplied to Venetia
A modular plant for processing drill-chip samples obtained in
the course of a resource-extension campaign has been supplied to the
Venetia Diamond Mine near Musina, Limpopo, RSA. This project was conducted
under the project-partnership model introduced between De Beers Consolidated
Mines Limited and BATEMAN at the end of 2003.
The drill chip samples are supplied to the plant in ore bags with
the capacity to hold two tons. The plant comprises three sections.
The liberation module contains scrubbing, screening, primary crushing
and oversize-crushing circuits to release the diamonds from the host
rock.
The liberated diamonds and crushed rock are then pumped by jet pump
to the dense-media separation (DMS) module comprising a 10 t/h DMS
unit where they are separated. The diamond concentrate from the sinks
screen is conveyed by tube feeder to the diamond-recovery module.
The latter module is housed in seven standard containers and comprises
an X-ray recovery circuit and a sort house plus a tailings-recycle
system.
The liberation and DMS modules were manufactured in Springs and the
containerised recovery module in Modderfontein, near Johannesburg.
After trial assembly and testing at the manufacturer's works, the
plant was dismantled and loaded onto 14 heavy-duty trucks and transported
approximately 500 km to site, where it was re-assembled for commissioning.
This fast-track project commenced in May 2004 and, after commissioning,
the plant was handed over to the client in mid 2005.
When the sampling programme has been completed, consideration will
be given to moving the plant to another operation. In this event the
plant will be dismantled and its modules moved individually to mining
operations elsewhere, if necessary even by air.
To this end, the plant was specially designed so that it could fit
into a transport aircraft. Extensive use was made of tubular steel
to ensure that the structure is very light and, as the frame is fully
welded, no bracing is necessary.
Ease of disassembly and assembly of the components was facilitated
by using simple connections which would enable the client's site crews
to handle the job.
More information may be obtained from Robert Abate, Bateman General
Manager, Modular Plants, on +27-11-899-2238 or email modular@batemanengineering.com.
