ABSTRACT FOR IMPC 2016, Quebec City
A simple yet versatile flotation modelling approach for
reliable plant design and operations optimization
B.K. Gorain
Barrick Gold Corporation
Suite 3700, 161 Bay Street
Toronto, Canada M5J 2S1
Phone: + 1 416 3077367
Email: bgorain@barrick.com
ABSTRACT
Flotation modelling has evolved over many decades through better understanding of the
flotation process. The challenge, however, is that most of these models are becoming
increasingly complex and this complexity magnifies for challenging ore bodies. The
estimation of model parameters requires highly sophisticated tools and techniques that
are costly, time consuming and sometimes impractical. Since there is a lack of
benchmarking of these complex parameters and often without any direct relevance, their
use in plant design and optimization poses significant risks.
A simplified modelling approach has been developed and tested for various base metals,
complex gold and PGM ores. Importantly, the model parameters are simple and its
relevance easy to understand allowing more versatile bench marking, thus resulting in
better introspection of model prediction outcomes. This paper presents the concepts of
this simple modelling approach along with findings from different plant design and
operations optimization applications.
Keywords: Flotation modelling, Flotation plant design, Operations optimization,
Flotation benchmarking