SMI Knowledge Transfer

Mass Balancing

General Information on Mass Balancing

Mass balancing is a key skill that many metallurgists and mining industry professionals are aware of, but often put
in the ‘too hard’ basket. Mass balancing is useful in reconciling feed and product streams through all processing
plants. It provides accounting of the material entering and leaving a system, and enables a better understanding of
the flowrates within a system, as well as assessing the quality of data obtained from sampling and surveys.
Mass balancing requires practice and experience to determine if the results are reasonable. There are several
programs developed at the JK Centre that are available to assist in mass balancing experimental data:
• JKMBal is used as the mass balancing program inside JKSimMet. This program was written by Professor Bill
Whiten and based on an algorithm developed by Dr Rob Morrison. The algorithm was developed to balance
data in one dimension, i.e. either sized data around a comminution or classification circuit OR assay data
around a flotation or separation circuit.
• JKMultiBal is used as the mass balancing program inside JKSimFloat. This program was developed by
Dr Stephen Gay and enables the user to balance data in both one and two dimensions, i.e. either sized or
assay data individually or together.

Introduction to JKMBal

This course is the first day of the Mass Balancing Plant Data course. It introduces the concepts of mass balancing
and gives practical examples around various mineral processing circuits to demonstrate 1D mass balancing.

Course Objectives
• Introduce the principles of mass balancing
• Construct and mass balance mineral processing flowsheets using JKMBal
• Understand the techniques of mass balancing plant data
• Present mass balancing results to gain a clear understanding of circuits

Course Outline
This course will provide a first level of training for those who wish to obtain mass balanced
data from a plant survey. It will familiarise attendees with the full range of facilities available
within JKMBal. The topics covered will include:
• Overview of mass balancing
• Features of JKMBal
• Case studies
• Mass balance control
• Flowsheet definition
• Import and export of data to files and spreadsheets

Attendees are encouraged to bring some survey data with them to demonstrate the capabilities of JKMBal. This
course will have a heavy emphasis on ‘hands-on’ work and one computer will be required for each two attendees.

SMI Knowledge Transfer, a business unit of JKTech, is a unique professional

development initiative, offering professional development and life-of-mine
training courses and workshops to the global resources sector.

JKTech Pty Ltd

40 Isles Road, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, AUSTRALIA | Telephone: +61 7 3365 5842 | Facsimile: +61 7 3365 5900 | info@jktech.com.au | www.jktech.com.au
 Course Attendees
This course is suitable for metallurgists and engineers who require a brief knowledge of mass balancing principles
and how to mass balance plant surveys.

Mass Balancing Plant Data

This two-day course incorporates the Introduction to JKMBal course as the first day, with the second day focusing
on mass balancing in two dimensions using JKMultiBal.

Course Objectives
• Introduce the principles of mass balancing
• Construct and mass balance mineral processing flowsheets using JKMBal and JKMultiBal
• Understand the techniques of mass balancing plant data on individual size and assay bases, as well as
simultaneously
• Present mass balancing results to gain a clear understanding of circuits

Course Outline
This 2-day course will provide training for those who wish to obtain mass balanced data from a plant survey. It will
familiarise attendees with the full range of facilities available within JKMultiBal. The topics covered include:
• Overview of mass balancing
• Features of JKMBal and JKMultiBal
• Case studies
• Mass balance control
• Flowsheet definition
• Import and export of data to files and spreadsheets

Attendees are encouraged to bring some survey data with them to demonstrate the capabilities of the two software
packages. This course will have a heavy emphasis on ‘hands-on’ work and one computer will be required for each
two attendees.

Course Attendees
This course is suitable for metallurgists and engineers who require a knowledge of mass balancing principles and
how to mass balance plant surveys.

SMI Knowledge Transfer, a business unit of JKTech, is a unique professional

development initiative, offering professional development and life-of-mine
training courses and workshops to the global resources sector.

JKTech Pty Ltd

40 Isles Road, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, AUSTRALIA | Telephone: +61 7 3365 5842 | Facsimile: +61 7 3365 5900 | info@jktech.com.au | www.jktech.com.au
 Useful Information for JKTech Specialist Courses

Course Cost
One Day Specialist Course - $1430 incl GST
Two Day Specialist Course - $2860 incl GST
Three Day Specialist Course - $4290 incl GST
Five Day Specialist Course - $5720 incl GST

Discounts are available for groups of 3 or more, and students.

Registration
SMI Knowledge Transfer is pleased to offer you the convenience of online registration and payment.
‘Register and Pay Now’ will enable you to give contact details and make payment via credit card online.
‘Register Only’ will enable you to give contact details online with a follow up call from a SMI KT staff member
regarding alternative payment details.

Timings
Professional development events will generally commence at 8.30am and conclude at 5.00pm. Times are subject to
slight variations on the day, however SMI Knowledge Transfer will undertake to keep time accordingly.

Cancellation
SMI Knowledge Transfer reserves the right to cancel any course at its discretion. Whilst we endeavour to make
every effort not to do this, there could be circumstances beyond our control (e,g. insufficient numbers) that may
prevent us from going ahead. In light of this, if you need to fly, we suggest that you purchase a fully flexible airline
ticket. Delegates cancellations 14-8 days before course commencement incur an administration fee of $110. For
cancellations 7 days or less before course commencements and non-attendance at the course, the full registration
fee is payable. Substitutions accepted when advised.

JKTech Services Contact

• Consulting (comminution, flotation, mineralogy, mining & geometallurgy) Ron McLean
• Process Mineralogy and In-House Instrument Analysis Manager SMI Knowledge Transfer
• Specialist Software (JKSimMet, JKSimFloat, JKMultiBal, JKSimBlast)
• Specialist Equipment (ore breakage characterisation, flotation characterisation) Telephone: +61 7 3365 5842
• Metallurgical Laboratory Services Facsimile: +61 7 3365 5900
• SMI Knowledge Transfer Email: r.mclean@jktech.com.au

JKTech’s range of technologies is supported by the ongoing research activities of the

Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland.

JKTech Pty Ltd

40 Isles Road, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, AUSTRALIA | Telephone: +61 7 3365 5842 | Facsimile: +61 7 3365 5900 | info@jktech.com.au | www.jktech.com.au