Analysis of alluvial gold recovery from Z-type concentrator discharge material using a centrifugal concentrator, province of Zamora-Chinchipe

Abstract

The methodologies, tools and technology for processing alluvial gold in Ecuador’s MAPE are outdated, inefficient and insecure. This research shows that the use of the "Z" concentrator in artisanal mining activity does not allow an effective recovery of alluvial gold, since although the study site was previously worked, with the use of the concentrator type Knelson recovered the mineral.

The enrichment index was used as a parameter that defined the number of cycles in the centrifuge for reprocessing the material.

Physicochemical, morphological and granulometric tests were carried out to characterize gold by its size and association; parameter that allowed defining the recovery range of the mineral.

The results of this study show that; the centrifugal concentrator Knelson is one of the most suitable equipment in terms of recovery of coarse and fine gold, its implementation in alluvial mining is essential to increase the processing of free gold without the use of mercury that is prohibited in Ecuadorian territory since 2015; since a considerable percentage (52.3%) Gold is found between 400 and 250 µm which is not exploited.