11/19/21, 7:18 AM 3 Product Recovery Calculation & Formula

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3 Product Recovery Calculation & Formula

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In this metallurgical (material/MatBal balance) involving 2 concentrates or 3 products, we have this

example:

It is decided to take a copper tail (zinc feed) sample in order to provide a check on the results
calculated in the previous example. The sample (CT) assayed 0.55% Cu (c5) and 20.9% Zn (z5),
respectively. The check weights of the copper and zinc concentrates are computed as follows:

As can be seen, the calculated weights of the copper concentrate check exactly, while the zinc
concentrate checks within 1.3%.

An average of the zinc concentrate weights, obtained using both methods, could be used if
desired.

It should be understood that there are certain limitations to the use of three-product formulas,
since it is required by definition that two of the three products involved must be concentrates of
essentially different metals or mineral components. The formulas will only give reliable results
when the assays indicate that a differential concentration of the two components into separate
concentrates has occurred.

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11/19/21, 7:18 AM 3 Product Recovery Calculation & Formula

0
Mineral Processing Accounting

Model Input
Model
Milling of ore, tonnes/day 1000 Output
%Metal 1 %Metal 2 87 Tonnes of Metal 1 concentrate

2.7 19.3 352

Feed Tonnes of Metal 2 concentrate

Metal 1 Con 25.3 5.1 81.4 Metal 1 recovery, %

Metal 1 Tail (Metal 2
Feed) 0.55 20.9 96.1 Metal 2 recovery, %

Metal 2 Con 1.2 52.7 11.5 Metal 1, ratio of concentration

Tail 0.15 0.95 2.8 Metal 2, ratio of concentration

Please plugin Model Input and observe the Model Output

Three Product (bi-metallic) Formula (Part 2)

Disclaimer
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11/19/21, 7:18 AM 3 Product Recovery Calculation & Formula

by David Michaud | October 14, 2015 | Tools of a Metallurgist |

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