Gravity Separation

Gravity Separation

Due to the significantly higher density of gold-bearing minerals compared with associated gangue minerals, ores containing coarse or free-milling gold can be effectively processed using gravity separation. Gravity separation is one of the fundamental beneficiation methods for alluvial and placer gold ores and is also widely used for recovering coarse, liberated gold particles from monomeric particles before or after flotation or leaching of vein-type gold ores.

In general, the gravity separation process for placer gold involves crushing, screening (using trommel and vibrating screens), desliming, classification, and gravity separation. Gravity separation can be performed using various types of equipment, including jigs, spirals, shaking tables and enhanced gravity separators.

Gravity separation is an effective method for recovering coarse gold from liberated particles and can improve overall gold recovery while simplifying the downstream processing circuit. Operational experience has demonstrated that integrated circuits combining iron removal, jigging, shaking tables, and inclined thickeners can achieve high gold recovery rates.