M ET E 11 - P RINCIPLES OF M ETALLURGY

Problem Set (First Long Exam)

Instructions
1. The problem set must be accomplished individually.
2. Answer must be written in a white paper. Write only on one side.
3. Present the solution in an ordered and organized manner.

M ET E 11 - P RINCIPLES OF M ETALLURGY

4. (10 pts) 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.

4. Deadline of the probset is on 15 September 2016 before your exam.

5. Late submissions will not be accepted.
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. (5 pts) Show how the equations of Recovery and Concentration Ratio
can be expressed in terms of assay/grade.
2. (10 pts) The feed to a concentrator plant is processing 120 000 MT/D
of copper ore. The feed contains 1.85 % Chalcopyrite ( CuFeS2 =
34.6 % Cu). The concentrate produced assays 26.4 % Cu concentrate
and the tailings contain 0.085 %.
Determine a. Amount of Concentrate and Tails b. Copper Recovery
c. Fraction of feed in concentrate d. Enrichment ratio
3. (15 pts) A gravity concentration plant treats a gold ore with a feed rate
of 50 000 tpd with an assay of 10 gpt. The concentrator plant used
a rougher-cleaner gravity concentration circuit. In order to attain
85 % passing 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.

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

Mesh Number
+10
-10 / +50
-50 / +100
-100 / +140
-140 / +270
-270 / +325
-325 / +400
-400 (pan)

Aperture Size,
microns

Weight,
g

1680
300
150
104
53
44
37

10
375
65
25
35
10
5
20

Wt %

Cumulative
%wt retained

Cumulative
%wt passing

Total

5. (10 pts) 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 short ton per hour, determine the amount of energy
required in half a day. (Express energy in terms of horsepower)

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 gpt cleaner concentrate assay and 0.5 gpt cleaner
tails assay.
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.
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