Cornel Mtavangu
TIES EditorialOver the past few years, the mining industry in Tanzania has been expanding, with ASGM (Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining) communities shifting from traditional to modern mining and processing methods. This transformation involves adopting advanced gold recovery techniques such as agitation leaching, CIP (Carbon in Pulp), and CIL (Carbon in Leach) instead of older methods like amalgamation and VAT leaching with CIC (Carbon in Column) systems.
However, this progress is hindered by several challenges:
1. Lack of Proper Design for Processing Plants:
Many processing plants are built without considering the specific material properties of the ore. Investors often replicate designs from others, assuming they will achieve similar results. This approach overlooks both the strengths and weaknesses of the copied designs and fails to account for variations in material properties, ultimately leading to underperformance.
2. Insufficient Consideration of Material Quantities:
Processing plants are frequently constructed without accurately estimating the quantity of material that will be processed. This results in a significant mismatch between supply and capacity, leaving many plants underutilized. The issue is further compounded by inadequate local mining methods that fail to meet plant requirements.
3. Lack of Geological Data on Supplied Material:
In most cases, the materials fed into the plants come from areas with no geological data, leading to uncertainty about the quality and quantity of the ore. Even if the quantity is sufficient, the ore grade may fall below the plant’s threshold, impacting profitability and efficiency.
4. Lack of Metallurgical Test works:
Metallurgical test work is essential for designing a gold processing plant, as it accounts for the physical and chemical properties of the materials to be processed. By evaluating the impact of these properties on gold leachability, one can select the most suitable processing technology. Failing to conduct these tests often results in poor plant design and reduced project profitability.
TIES addresses these issues by providing comprehensive consultation services to investors, helping them make informed decisions when investing in new gold processing technologies.
"Establish confidence in your materials, then invest in a gold processing plant."
For more info visit in our website. https://ties.co.tz