Weir Minerals enables savings at Philippines gold and copper mine

The Didipio mine, which employs more than 1500 workers (drawn predominantly from the local community), expanded its production capacity, which increased the incumbent cyclones’ feed density beyond what they could effectively manage, leading to a circulating load of up to 700%.

The hydrocyclones improved separation efficiency due to their finely tuned spigot liner dia. and the strength and corrosion resistance provided by its cast housing. These qualities helped to reduce the circulating load from 620% to 374%. The direct savings in power consumption, ball consumption, cyclone and pump maintenance costs exceed US$815 000/y.

Gary Webb, Processing Manager, OceanaGold Didipio Project, said: “Having had good performance from Cavex hydrocyclones at our New Zealand sites, we were confident that retrofitting Cavex hydrocyclone cluster at Didipio, with an increased number of smaller cyclones than we had at the time, would help reduce our problematic circulating load and lever multiple benefits in doing so.”

Webb concluded: “The changeover to Cavex hydrocyclones has exceeded our expectations, enabling higher throughput and lower consumable costs without being penalised in grind size.”

The product’s performance can be attributed to its 360° laminar spiral inlet geometry design, which provides a natural flow path into the hydrocyclone. This shape allows the feed to blend smoothly with rotating slurry inside the chamber, reducing turbulence.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/product-news/21012020/weir-minerals-makes-savings-at-philippines-gold-and-copper-mine/