Companies that use heap leaching to extract precious metals such as copper, gold, silver, or uranium ore have come to rely on FEECO for their production needs, from preliminary consultation and feasibility/materials testing, to custom equipment manufacturing and system design. FEECO can even offer a turnkey heap leaching system consisting of the agglomerator, and the necessary supporting material handling equipment.
Read on to learn more about FEECO’s capabilities within the heap leaching industry.
Feasibility Testing & Process Design Services
FEECO is also unique in that it can not only design and build the systems needed in heap leaching operations, but can run various tests to determine feasibility of agglomerating ore fines, as well as what the process will require. In addition to this, FEECO also helps mining companies by taking waste materials and using granulation technologies to turn them into value-added products.
Custom Equipment Manufacturing
Agglomerators – the additional revenues derived from agglomerated ore fines can quickly account for and exceed the initial up-front capital investment of a rotary drum. Agglomerators are an essential part of any large scale leaching operation. Without drums, non-agglomerated ore fines tend to be irregular in shape, impeding a consistent flow of leaching solution through the ore heap. Consequently, less ore is leached and the process cannot achieve its full potential.
FEECO’s heavy-duty agglomerators ensure efficient agglomeration and mixing of particle fines and leaching solution to achieve a homogeneous mixture of fines that are symmetrical, and uniform in size and shape. This maximizes the flow of the leaching agent through the material and additionally allows a sort of pre-leaching stage.
Bulk Material Handling Systems – FEECO also offers a comprehensive line of bulk material handling systems to accommodate the needs of the mining industry. No matter the size of the facility or capacity of storage, FEECO can custom-fit the ideal conveyor system to keep production moving at a smooth, seamless clip.
Some of the bulk material handling equipment FEECO has to offer includes:
Belt Trippers and Plows – Belt trippers take into account the need for multiple discharge areas at any given point in production. Once alternative discharge areas are set up along the conveyor line, it’s the belt tripper’s job to interrupt the flow of material and jettison a pre-configured amount of material through the alternate discharge area(s). Adding to its versatility, FEECO’s belt tripper design permits both fixed and movable positioning, allowing the production staff to switch the alternate discharge area on-the-fly without interrupting the flow of production.
Smaller scale production facilities may not be willing or able to invest the capital required for an elaborate belt tripper system, but still must establish alternate discharge areas for the sake of production flow. FEECO International, as a full-service manufacturer for both large- and small-scale facilities, has an economical solution in the form of its belt plow system. As its name suggests, the belt plow pushes quantities of material out of the production flow into one or two fixed discharge areas. Though not as versatile as a belt tripper system, FEECO’s belt plow allows for one- or two-side discharge with easy manual lever action that allows for quick reconfiguration with minimal interruption to production flow.
FEECO also offers a complete line of belt conveyors, bucket elevators, and steep incline conveyors, to move material no matter where it has to go. While many companies can provide material handling equipment to the mining industry, the advantage to FEECO’s bulk material handling equipment is that it is highly engineered and robust, offering the perfect solution to meet the needs of such a demanding industry.
When it comes to heap leaching and metallurgical processing, FEECO International has you covered. For more information on our equipment and services, contact us today!