A process for smelting a silver-rich ore or concentrate that comprises an ore or concentrate that contains at least 1% silver by weight, more preferably form 2% to 8% silver by weight. The process comprises feeding the silver-rich ore or concentrate to a smelting furnace, adding a lead-containing flux material to the furnace and conducting smelting at elevated temperature and in the presence of oxygen to form a silver-rich matte and a slag. The silver-rich matte may have a silver content of from 5% to 60% by weight.
An apparatus for stripping metal from a cathode plate, the apparatus comprising stripping means adapted for positioning between the metal and the cathode plate in order to separate the metal from the cathode plate, and wherein movement of the stripping means is achieved through movement of a robotic arm.
A feeder apparatus for a furnace comprising a vessel for feed material, said vessel being positioned at least partially above a feed port of the furnace, and feeding means located at least partially within the vessel, said feeding means being adapted to control the rate of feed flow from the vessel, through the feed port and into the furnace, said apparatus preventing escape of fugitive gases between an exterior of the vessel and the feed port.
C22B 9/10 - General processes of refining or remelting of metalsApparatus for electroslag or arc remelting of metals with refining or fluxing agentsUse of materials therefor
C22B 23/02 - Obtaining nickel or cobalt by dry processes
A method for treating red mud containing a desilication product or for treating a desilication product-containing concentrate obtained from red mud comprises grinding the desilication product for a period of less than 15 minutes. Grinding may take place in a high intensity mill having a power input of at least 50kW/m3 and/or with a weight ratio of grinding media to red mud or desilication product containing concentrate of less than 15.
C01F 7/06 - Preparation of alkali metal aluminatesAluminium oxide or hydroxide therefrom by treating aluminous minerals or waste-like raw materials with alkali hydroxide, e.g. leaching of bauxite according to the Bayer process
7.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING A GRINDING MEDIA TO A GRINDING MILL
An apparatus (10) for delivering a grinding media from a holding vessel or storage vessel to a grinding mill, the vessel holding a quantity of the grinding media, the grinding media being in the form of a particulate material, the vessel having an outlet at lower end. The apparatus (10) comprises a housing (12) positioned below the outlet of the vessel, the housing (12) receiving grinding media from the vessel, a nozzle (80) delivering a liquid to the housing, and a mixing chamber (110) having an inlet for receiving liquid and grinding media. The inlet of the mixing chamber (110) is spaced from an outlet of the nozzle (80) whereby liquid exiting the nozzle (80) entrains grinding media in the housing (12) and a mixture of liquid and grinding media enters the inlet of the mixing chamber (110) and is further mixed in the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has an outlet through which the mixture passes into a diffuser (130) and then on to a pump box of a grinding mill. The mixture may be dewatered prior to passing to the pump box.
B02C 17/18 - Disintegrating by tumbling mills, i.e. mills having a container charged with the material to be disintegrated with or without special disintegrating members such as pebbles or balls Details
A method for tapping slag from a stationary furnace comprises providing a stationary furnace having a tap opening for removing slag therefrom, packing said tap opening with clay or mud, drilling a hole through the clay or mud in the tap opening to form a tap hole through which the slag can flow, the hole drilled through the clay or mud having a diameter that is significantly smaller than a width of the tap opening, and controlling a flow of slag through the hole by adjusting the size of the hole.
An apparatus for stripping metal from a cathode plate, the apparatus comprising stripping means adapted for positioning between the metal and the cathode plate in order to separate the metal from the cathode plate, and wherein movement of the stripping means is achieved through movement of a robotic arm.
An attrition mill comprises a grinding chamber having a plurality of grinding elements and an internal classification and separation stage. The mill includes at least one grinding element providing a larger flow path therethrough, when compared to other of the grinding elements. In other embodiments, mill includes at least one grinding element having an open area in the grinding element created to allow a larger flow path as a proportion of the grinding element surface area without such allowance in the range of from 15 % to equal to or less than 100 %.
B02C 17/14 - Mills in which the charge to be ground is turned over by movements of the container other than by rotating, e.g. by swinging, vibrating, tilting
B02C 23/16 - Separating or sorting of material, associated with crushing or disintegrating with separator defining termination of crushing or disintegrating zone, e.g. screen denying egress of oversize material
B02C 13/10 - Disintegrating by mills having rotary beater elements with horizontal rotor shaft and axial flow
B02C 23/10 - Separating or sorting of material, associated with crushing or disintegrating with separator arranged in discharge path of crushing or disintegrating zone
B02C 23/18 - Adding fluid, other than for crushing or disintegrating by fluid energy
B02C 17/16 - Mills in which a fixed container houses stirring means tumbling the charge
B02C 23/14 - Separating or sorting of material, associated with crushing or disintegrating with more than one separator
An attrition mill comprises a grinding chamber having a plurality of grinding elements and an internal classifica-tion and separation stage. The mill includes at least one grinding element providing a larger flow path therethrough, when com-pared to other of the grinding elements. In other embodiments, mill includes at least one grinding element having an open area in the grinding element created to allow a larger flow path as a proportion of the grinding element surface area without such al-lowance in the range of from 15 % to equal to or less than 100 %.
B02C 13/10 - Disintegrating by mills having rotary beater elements with horizontal rotor shaft and axial flow
B02C 17/14 - Mills in which the charge to be ground is turned over by movements of the container other than by rotating, e.g. by swinging, vibrating, tilting
B02C 17/16 - Mills in which a fixed container houses stirring means tumbling the charge
B02C 23/10 - Separating or sorting of material, associated with crushing or disintegrating with separator arranged in discharge path of crushing or disintegrating zone
B02C 23/14 - Separating or sorting of material, associated with crushing or disintegrating with more than one separator
B02C 23/16 - Separating or sorting of material, associated with crushing or disintegrating with separator defining termination of crushing or disintegrating zone, e.g. screen denying egress of oversize material
B02C 23/18 - Adding fluid, other than for crushing or disintegrating by fluid energy
A furnace for conducting a high temperature process under oxidising conditions comprises an outer shell made from a metal, one or more cooling channels formed on or joined to the outer shell and a furnace lining. The furnace lining comprises a backing lining comprising a relatively high thermal conductivity layer positioned adjacent to an inner wall of the outer shell and a working lining positioned inwardly of the layer of relatively high thermal conductivity. The backing lining can comprise a graphite lining or a graphite-containing lining. The rate of heat transfer through the backing lining is sufficiently high to form a protective freeze on the backing lining in the event that the working lining wears away.
A method for reducing particle size of a particulate comprising feeding a feed material to a grinding mill having a power of at least 500 kW, the mill having a specific power draw of at least 50 kW per cubic meter of grinding volume of the mill and the grinding mill including a grinding media comprising particulate material having a specific gravity of not less than 2.4 tons/m3 and a particle size falling in the range of from about 0.8 to 8 mm, grinding the feed material in the grinding mill and removing a product from the grinding mill, the product having a particle size range such that D80 of the product is at least about 20 microns.
A method of operating a flotation cell wherein a feed stream containing particles is provided to the flotation cell wherein a proportion of the particles rise in the cell and exit the cell in a concentrate stream and a proportion of the particles sink in the cell, wherein at least a portion of the particles that sink in the cell are subject to a classification process to produce classified particles and at least a portion of the classified particles are recycled to the flotation cell.
An apparatus for stripping metal from a cathode plate in which part of the metal has been separated from the cathode plate to form a gap between the part of the metal and the cathode plate, the apparatus comprising at least one roller for positioning in the gap between the metal and the cathode plate and drive means for driving the roller along the cathode plate or the metal to cause stripping of the metal from the cathode plate.
An oil sands flotation circuit wherein a feed stream is fed to a bank comprising at least one rougher flotation cell producing a rougher concentrate stream and a rougher tailings stream, said rougher concentrate stream being fed to a bank comprising at least one cleaner flotation cell producing a cleaner concentrate stream and a cleaner tailings stream.
C10G 1/00 - Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal
C10C 3/08 - Working-up pitch, asphalt, bitumen by selective extraction
C10G 1/04 - Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal by extraction
A method for producing self-dunnaged cathode bundles, comprising the steps of forming at least one deformed cathode by bending opposed ends of at least one cathode to form a pair of supports disposed at an angle to a central portion of the at least one deformed cathode, and stacking one or more further cathodes above or below the at least one deformed cathode.
A flotation method in which a liquid or slurry is fed to a downcomer (20) where it forms a region of high void fraction which moves out of the downcomer (20) into a vessel (10) in which a froth rises and liquid or slurry falls, characterized in that the liquid or slurry is fed to the downcomer (20) with a jet velocity as it exits an orifice and enters a free jet zone of less than 8 metres/second.
A method for producing lead involves feeding lead concentrate, flux and solid fuel passing to a feed preparation unit (10). The prepared, mixed feed is then passed to a lead smelting furnace (14), such as an ISASMELT furnace or other top entry, submerged lance furnace. Air or oxygen (16), is injected into the molten charge in the ISASMELT furnace (14) via the submerged lance. In furnace (14), the feed mixture is converted into lead bullion and a lead-containing slag. The lead bullion is removed via a taphole or weir (18). The slag is removed via a taphole or weir (20). The slag (20) removed from the furnace (14) is formed into lumps having a desirable size range. The slag lumps (20), together with coke and flux (26) are fed into a blast furnace (28). In the blast furnace (28), the slag is converted into lead bullion that is removed via a taphole or weir (30) and discard slag that is removed via a taphole (32). The lead bullion removed at (18 and 30) may be subsequently fed to a lead refinery (34) for further treatment.
A method for producing lead involves feeding lead concentrate, flux and solid fuel passing to a feed preparation unit (10). The prepared, mixed feed is then passed to a lead smelting furnace (14), such as an ISASMELT furnace or other top entry, submerged lance furnace. Air or oxygen (16), is injected into the molten charge in the ISASMELT furnace (14) via the submerged lance. In furnace (14), the feed mixture is converted into lead bullion and a lead-containing slag. The lead bullion is removed via a taphole or weir (18). The slag is removed via a taphole or weir (20). The slag (20) removed from the furnace (14) is formed into lumps having a desirable size range. The slag lumps (20), together with coke and flux (26) are fed into a blast furnace (28). In the blast furnace (28), the slag is converted into lead bullion that is removed via a taphole or weir (30) and discard slag that is removed via a taphole (32). The lead bullion removed at (18 and 30) may be subsequently fed to a lead refinery (34) for further treatment.
A method for reducing particle size of a particulate comprising feeding a feed material to a grinding mill having a power of at least 500kW, the mill having a specific power draw of at least 50kW per cubic metre of grinding volume of the mill and the grinding mill including a grinding media comprising particulate material having a specific gravity of not less than 2.4 tonnes/m3 and a particle size falling in the range of from about 0.8 to 8mm, grinding the feed material in the grinding mill and removing a product from the grinding mill, the product having a particle size range such that D80 of the product is at least about 20 microns.
B02C 4/00 - Crushing or disintegrating by roller mills
B02C 7/00 - Crushing or disintegrating by disc mills
B02C 15/00 - Disintegrating by milling members in the form of rollers or balls co-operating with rings or discs
B02C 17/00 - Disintegrating by tumbling mills, i.e. mills having a container charged with the material to be disintegrated with or without special disintegrating members such as pebbles or balls
22.
METHOD FOR INCREASING EFFICIENCY OF GRINDING OF ORES, MINERALS AND CONCENTRATES
A method for reducing particle size of a particulate comprising feeding a feed material to a grinding mill having a power of at least 500kW, the mill having a specific power draw of at least 50kW per cubic metre of grinding volume of the mill and the grinding mill including a grinding media comprising particulate material having a specific gravity of not less than 2.4 tonnes/m3 and a particle size falling in the range of from about 0.8 to 8mm, grinding the feed material in the grinding mill and removing a product from the grinding mill, the product having a particle size range such that D80 of the product is at least about 20 microns.
B02C 4/00 - Crushing or disintegrating by roller mills
B02C 7/00 - Crushing or disintegrating by disc mills
B02C 15/00 - Disintegrating by milling members in the form of rollers or balls co-operating with rings or discs
B02C 17/00 - Disintegrating by tumbling mills, i.e. mills having a container charged with the material to be disintegrated with or without special disintegrating members such as pebbles or balls
A method for obtaining pure copper is provided wherein oxygen is blown onto a copper melt, in a melting furnace lined with refractory material, having a waste heat boiler set onto it, in order to oxidize contaminants contained in the melt and thereby remove them from the melt, and wherein a splash protection device through which water flows is provided above the copper melt, on the inside wall of the melting furnace, which prevents copper that splashes out of the copper melt from penetrating into the waste heat boiler. Boiling water is used for cooling the splash protection device, which water is under a pressure of more than 5 bar and is evaporated, at least in part, as it flows through the splash protection device.