An enhanced gravity concentrator was installed in conjunction with an intensive leach reactor at the Sadiola plant in Mali last year and commissioned in December 2007._x000D_
There has been much debate over the years as to the effect of gravity concentration on overall plant performance. The late Dr Laplante suggested that for every ten per cent of gold recovered by gravity, there was a corresponding 0.1 per cent to one per cent additional overall plant recovery._x000D_
The results at Sadiola are consistent with this hypothesis with an overall four per cent gain in plant recovery._x000D_
With total gold recovery of 12 per cent in the gravity section, grades are increased from 3.54 g/t in the gravity feed to an average of 2 600 g/t in the concentrator feed to the inline reactor. The recovery of gold in the inline reactor is in excess of 98.5 per cent._x000D_
This paper discusses the background to the project, the laboratory test work prior to the equipment selection, the operational results of the system, as well as the benefi ts of the future application of high mass yield centrifugal concentrators in base metals, sulfides and industrial minerals._x000D_
Bench scale, pilot scale and plant practice examples are also presented.