Particle shape characterization of shaking table streams in a Turkish chromite concentration plant by using dynamic imaging and microscopical techniques

Abstract

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of its kind since it is related to the quantitative shape examination of particles of feed, concentrate, middling and tailing products in coarse and fine shaking table streams of a Turkish chromite concentration plant. In this study, the novel technique; Dynamic image analysis (DIA) as well as visual inspection by SEM and stereomicroscope were used for the representative samples of the plant. Analysis revealed that particle shapes of concentrate products are mostly equant or round while the most elongated particles were observed in tailing products at a 95% confidence level. This is highly linked to the rolling and sliding movement of round and elongated particles, respectively on the deck. This implies that particle shape is one of the parameters affecting gravity separation. Using shape data with tonnages of the circuits in mass balance equations indicates that shape distributions of products in table circuits are consistent. This study gives insight as better separation recovery could be obtained when a proper mill is used for producing feed particles, which have targeted shape to shaking tables since any improvements in recovery will have a big effect on the concentrate income.