Investigating the Potentials of Sluice Box Angle of Tilt on the Beneficiation of Birnin-Gwari Gold Deposit

Abstract

The potentials of sluice box angle of tilt on the beneficiation of Birin-Gwari gold deposit was investigated. The sample was sourced from twenty (20) pits on the mine site and homogenized towards chemical characterization. Particle size analysis using 100 g head sample over the sieve range of 500 μm and 45 μm. 100 g each of the homogenized samples was charged into the sluice box at varied tilt angles ranging from 10º to 60º and also at a varying feed rate of 50 kg/hr to 100 kg/hr at 1000 m/s flow rate. The Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (ED-XRFS) revealed 10.15 ppm Au, 0.43% Fe, 0.05% Pb, and other constituent elements in trace form. Particle size analysis showed the liberation size to be -125+90 μm. The highest yield in mass was given as 32.70 g assaying 43.20 ppm at an angle of 10º and varied feed rate while keeping other parameters/constituent constant and also, 56.32 g was the highest yield in mass assaying 12.83 ppm at 50 kg/hr feed rate.