Spiral separators that boost your recovery rates

What other equipment can be used in the beneficiation process?

Equipment other than spirals which can be used in the beneficiation process includes cyclones, magnetic separators, and classifiers. Multotec Canada can help you identify which equipment would be the most effective and efficient for your specific application.

Why choose spiral separators over other technologies?

• Low maintenance: simple design with no moving parts
• Separates minerals based on density
• No reagents: utilises water as a medium, unlike GMS or floatation equipment
• Cost & metallurgically-efficient
• Low energy consumption: the only element which requires power is the pump that delivers the feed of material to the spiral

Types of spirals

Multotec Canada manufactures over 10 different types of spiral separators, offering a range of shapes, diameters, heights, starts, wash water systems, and throughput capacities in order for our clients to meet their requirements in the best way possible. View our spiral concentrator range.

How do spiral separators work?

A spiral concentrator, which resembles a large screw-like structure, incorporates a vertical spiral channel with an inner and outer wall. Mineral feed slurry is then introduced at the top of the spiral, the gravity concentration equipment then makes use of centrifugal force to separate materials based on their densities.

Density is related to how much mass is packed in a specific volume. For example, a block of gold has a high density as it holds a high volume of mass in a small volume. A balloon, on the other hand, that is filled with air has a low density, due to its small amount of mass in its volume.

A spiral concentrator makes use of gravitational force to separate the minerals and ore, which is dependent on the volume of mass in the material, therefore density, as explained above. For instance, dropping a block of gold will have a greater gravitational force in comparison to dropping an air-filled balloon from the same height.

Centrifugal force, which alters the direction of gravitational force, therefore pulls the heavier material towards the centre of the spiral, causing the lighter pieces of material to be forced towards the outer edge of the spiral. Gravitational force groups materials based on their masses, separating the types of material from each other. The separation of materials enables easy extraction of valuable minerals.

Different applications, however, will have different requirements. For example, coal will be the only material where the lighter material is needed or desired, other applications such as iron will require the heavier material in the separation of materials. We can meet the needs of your unique application!

Using a highly efficient spiral concentrator reduces the number of stages in a plant, reducing timelines and overall footprint. This is because mineral plants can improve their recovery rates and the removal of undesired gangue materials, all through the use of gravitational forces in spirals.

What are the top mined minerals in Canada?

1. Gold
2. Coal
3. Iron Ore Concentrate
4. Potash
5. Copper

Fun Fact: Canada is the globe’s leading producer of potash and is ranked in the top five producers of aluminium, cobalt, diamonds, fluorspar, gemstones, gold, indium, niobium, palladium, platinum, tellurium, titanium concentrate and uranium.

Click on the links to get access to Multotec Canada’s mineral flow sheets for Canada’s top-mined minerals!

Gold (CIP & CIL), gold floatation, coal, iron ore, potash, copper (sulphide or oxide), aluminium/bauxite, diamond, fluorspar, Typical PGM (Platinum Group Metals), and uranium.

Spiral separators dedicated to serving your specific needs

Multotec Canada is committed to finding new solutions to new problems across all scales. New research and development have shown that our compact, modular designs add flexibility when building or replacing spiral plants, with the distinct advantage of extending the life of your plant while reducing overall maintenance costs.

Get rid of the bulk of ore so you can shorten timelines and focus on getting the most purity in your Canadian mineral processing plant! Watch this short video on how our gravity concentration equipment can be optimised by Multotec Canada to achieve the client’s requirements, which include higher recovery rates.

Watch this video for practical examples of how Multotec can optimise your spiral separator circuits to deliver better results.

Global end-to-end gravity concentration services

With over 50 years of experience, Multotec has become the leading supplier of gravity concentration technology solutions which aim to reduce the operating costs of mineral processing plants. Multotec Canada delivers end-to-end spiral separator solutions, from consultations, design assistance, process audits and test work, and complete spiral concentration plant optimisation, to equipment (including accessories and spares).

Multotec Canada manufactures and distributes a full range of mineral processing equipment throughout Canada, Mexico and parts of North America through its offices in Edmonton, Vancouver and Montréal.

Multotec’s global footprint of process engineers and specialists helps you lower your cost per ton through optimised processes that are effective and efficient. Our equipment is ideal for gold, nickel, copper, coal, chrome, mineral sands, platinum, iron ore and diamond processing and beneficiation plants: accommodating popular mines in Canada!

Contact Multotec Canada at canada@multotec.com or call us on our Edmonton, Vancouver or Montréal line.