Placer and Alluvial Gold Mining Solutions

Efficient, sustainable washing circuits that maximise recovery of placer and alluvial gold.

Placer and alluvial gold mining recovers gold naturally concentrated by water and erosion in riverbeds, beach sands and sedimentary deposits. CFlo circuits combine Guardian scalping, Centriscreen wet sizing, Centrimax cyclones, Atropure attrition scrubbing and multi-stage jigging to maximise gold recovery, with the sand reject converted into a usable by-product through the Centriwash system.

Placer and alluvial gold

Placer gold is found in sedimentary deposits such as alluvial sources, beach sands and other geological formations, naturally concentrated by water and erosion. Alluvial gold, typically found beneath riverbeds and stream beds, takes the form of fine dust, thin flakes or occasional nuggets. CFlo's technologies are designed to ensure maximum gold recovery while minimising environmental disruption.

A lower-impact way to mine gold

Compared to underground mining, placer and alluvial gold mining is widely recognised as one of the most eco-friendly methods, thanks to its reduced environmental footprint and lower energy requirements. By leveraging the natural forces of water to concentrate gold, CFlo provides sustainable approaches that preserve both the ecosystem and the economic value of these deposits.

Scalping and wet sizing

Riverbed material is fed by excavator onto the Guardian portable scalping screener, which removes oversized particles (+20 mm) that would interfere with further processing. The minus 20 mm material passes to the Centriscreen wet sizing screen, which removes plus 5 mm material, ensuring only finer material continues through the circuit and maximising the potential for gold recovery.

Attrition scrubbing

The minus 5 mm material is routed to the Centrimax cyclone, which controls slurry concentration by separating excess water from solids. The concentrated underflow feeds the Atropure heavy-duty attrition scrubber, where particles are scrubbed to remove clays and other impurities. This step enhances gold liberation, making the gold easier to recover in the concentration phases.

Pre-concentration and sand recovery

After attrition, the scrubbed material enters a multi-stage jigging circuit for pre-concentration. Jigs separate heavier gold particles from lighter materials by exploiting density differences. The jig reject, primarily sand, is processed in the Centriwash sand classification and dewatering system, producing sand as a usable by-product rather than waste.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What equipment does an alluvial gold washing plant use?

A CFlo circuit runs Guardian portable scalping screener, Centriscreen wet sizing screen, Centrimax cyclone for slurry density control, Atropure heavy-duty attrition scrubber and a multi-stage jigging circuit, with the Centriwash system classifying and dewatering the sand reject into a saleable by-product.

How does attrition scrubbing improve gold recovery?

The Atropure scrubber removes clays and other impurities coating the particles, which enhances gold liberation. Liberated gold responds far better in the jigging circuit, where density differences separate heavy gold from lighter material, so scrubbing directly lifts recovery in the concentration phases.

What feed sizes does the circuit handle?

The Guardian scalping screener removes oversized particles above 20 mm at the front of the plant. The Centriscreen wet sizing screen then removes plus 5 mm material, so the gold recovery stages work on minus 5 mm feed, where fine placer gold is concentrated.

What happens to the sand rejected by the jigs?

The jig reject consists primarily of sand and is processed in the Centriwash sand classification and dewatering system, producing construction-grade sand as a usable by-product. That turns what would be a waste stream into a second revenue line alongside the gold.

Is placer and alluvial gold mining environmentally sustainable?

Compared to underground mining, it is widely recognised as one of the most eco-friendly methods, with a reduced environmental footprint and lower energy requirements. CFlo circuits leverage the natural water-driven concentration of gold and are designed to minimise environmental disruption while maximising recovery.

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