Rockster’s DUPLEX System is being used in an extraction operation in Tanzania. The PB Mining Company in Tanzania selected Rockster’s 2-in-1 machine for crushing highly abrasive rock.
The extraction firm was formed in 2014 and specialises in the exploration of lead glance, named Galena, the natural mineral form of lead sulphide. This is the most important ore of lead and usually contains about 1–2% silver, a byproduct that far outweighs the main lead ore in revenue. Because of its low melting point, it is easy to liberate by smelting.
The company has many different sites in the Mbeya Region in the United Republic of Tanzania, working in a territory of about 80km2. Exploration works are carried out by excavation as well as using vertical and inclined prospecting drilling, a driving of trenches, vertical and inclined holes.
One of the sites is located near Chunya in Tanzania’s Mbeya Region. The firm started to work at the site in May 2017 first excavating the upper layers of the soil and taking out the first samples of ore for analysis. After positive results of the geological tests the firm started its main extraction operation.
The firm brought in the Rockster R800 jaw crusher to crush the Galena to a fraction of 0-40mm. To define this final grain size, the firm use an RS83 screenbox with an RB75 return belt on the crushing plant. After that the firm changes the crushing units and continues crushing the 0-40mm material with the impact crusher R900 to a fraction of 0-5 mm. This material is sent to a leaching company to separate the pure ore which is then used for the production of concentrates based on polymetallic ores.
Rockster sales representative Maksim Perminov commissioned the machine and did the training and instruction at the customer’s site in Tanzania. He said, “After finding out the requirements of the PB Mining Company I was sure that the Rockster Duplex-System would be the best solution to receive the final grain quality they need with the lowest costs possible. The uniformity of the ore mass is very important for them. As the Galena rock has a very high abrasiveness, it requires a primary crushing on the jaw crusher to reduce the wear of blow bars when working on a rotary crusher.”
The PB Mining Company’s 2-in-1 crushing plant has proven successful in producing the necessary 0-5mm final grain. Using this equipment has done away with the need for purchasing, maintaining and transporting separate crushers. By using the jaw as primary crusher the firm saves wear and maintenance costs. The secondary impact crusher also delivers a good product shape and quality, allowing the firm to crush the Galena in the most ecological and cost efficient way.
