Coal Preparation » Fine Coal
Correct outcomes in froth flotation yield predictions for product ash from coal borecore exploration is critical to resource predictive potential, market evaluation and economic mining outcomes.
It has been observed across multiple projects that froth flotation yield can be estimated from borecores using a variety of testing and interpretive methods. Comparison against actual data from actual coal handling and preparation plants is generally considered by industry to show the borecore froth flotation outcomes as underrepresenting actual yield and/or being imprecise in prediction.
Though the general consensus is of borecore froth flotation outcomes being inaccurate, rarely is this quantified due to difficulties in attaining good comparative data. Limitations include definition of accurate froth flotation feed ash to the fines circuit and corresponding product and reject streams, and differing borecore froth flotation test work methods.
This project's objective was to evaluate froth flotation feed ash and product yield / ash outcomes from borecores and actual coal handling and preparation plants. Several froth flotation methods from borecores, including the pseudo-density method and the researcher's “Froth-Line” model were evaluated against actual data. Three deposits had detailed plant data processed specifically for this project, with data, references and outcomes from researcher's prior work on multiple other deposits also integrated into the outcomes and findings.
The outcomes of this project were the definition of accuracy (precision and bias) information for varying coal types with notes on methods relevant to the accuracy of outcomes. This benefits the industry as it serves as a guide for use and defined accuracy of outcomes for the data and methods evaluated, and potentially saving very expensive mine, coal handling and preparation plant design and resource misrepresentation. The outcomes then provide a financial risk reduction and / or evaluation enhancement.
This work acts as a guide for use in industry to improve froth flotation testing accuracy and thus plant design and resource accuracy, saving time for technicians and reducing risk in evaluation.