MetE 11 Probset

Instructions
Practice problems in Met E 11.
Note : Do not round off until the final answer. Look for other sources for
conversion factors.

I would prefer even to fail in honor than to win by

cheating
-Sophocles

1. Show how the equations of Recovery and Concentration Ratio

can be expressed in terms of assay/grade. (5 pts)

c ( f t ) ( c t )
%R= x 100 K =
f (c t) ( f t )

2. The feed to a concentrator plant is processing 120 000 MT/D of

copper ore. The feed contains 1.85 % Chalcopyrite ( CuFeS 2 = 34.6 %
Cu). The concentrate produced assays 26.4 % Cu concentrate and the
tailings contain 0.085 %.
Determine
a. Amount of Concentrate and Tails C=2,220T =117,780 MT / D
b. Copper Recovery %R=85.68
c. Fraction of feed in concentrate = 0.0184
d. Enrichment ratio Er =46.31

(10 pts)

3. A gravity concentration plant treats a gold ore with a feedrate of 50

000 tpd with an assay of 10 gmt (gm per metric ton). The concentrator
plant used a rougher-cleaner gravity concentration circuit. In order to
attain 85 % recovery in the roughing stage, calculate the assay of the
gold concentrate given that the concentration ratio for roughing is 25.
Draw the concentration circuit and label properly. Calculate the mass
and grade of tails in the rougher stage.
(c=212.5 gmt; T=48,000 tpd; t = 1.56 gmt)

Find the amount of feed of the cleaner concentrate. If the cleaner stage
enrichment ratio is 1.9 calculate the mass of the final concentrate
given a 403.5 gmt cleaner concentrate assay and 0.5 gmt cleaner tails
assay.
(Fcl = 2,000 tpd; Ccl = 1,052.6 tpd)
If the price of gold is USD 1590 per tr. Oz. How much is the total loss of
the plant per day due to total tailings. (loss = $23,536.97)

( 15 pts )

4. Before subjecting to grinding in the ball mill, a crushed andesite ore

underwent particles size analysis. Shown below is the the size
distribution of the ball mill feed. Complete the table and determine the
80 % cumulative passing size in microns. Include a Gates-Gaudin-
Schuhmann plot with corresponding trendline and R2 value.

(10 pts)

Table A. Particle size analysis of feed for ball mill grinding

Mesh Aperture Weight, Wt % Cumulativ Cumulativ

Number Size, g e %wt e %wt
microns retained passing
+10 1680 10
-10 / 300 375
+50
-50 / 150 65
+100
-100 / 104 25
+140
-140 / 53 35
+270
-270 / 44 10
+325
-325 / 37 5
+400
-400 20
(pan)

Total

5. The andesite from the previous example was made to undergo ball
milling. The 80 % cumulative passing size of the ore after grinding is
0.053 inch. The Bonds Work Index of the ore was determined using
standard testing methods and was found to be 18.05. Determine the
amount of energy required to comminute 1 short ton of the ore during
the ball mill grinding stage. If the ball mill has a throughput of 45
shorts ton per hour, determine the amount of energy required in half a
day. (Express energy in terms of horsepower)
( 10 pts)

1 short ton = 2000 lbs

1 metric ton = 1000 kg
2.2 lbs = 1 kg