Lead-Zinc Ore Sorting at Fankou Mineral Processing Plant
Sensor-Based Ore Sorting at Fankou Lead-Zinc Mine
Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet Co., Ltd. operates the Fankou lead-zinc mine's mineral processing plant, running a +12–90mm ore fraction with a combined raw grade of 12% Pb+Zn through pre-concentration at 2,600 t/d. Even at this comparatively high ore grade, rejecting the barren fraction before grinding and flotation lifts plant-wide feed grade and reduces the tonnage that has to move through downstream processing. John Finlay delivered this installation, using sensor-based ore sorters to reject waste rock from the +12–90mm feed ahead of the plant's grinding and flotation circuit.
Project Overview
| Operator | Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet Co., Ltd |
|---|---|
Site | Fankou Lead-Zinc Mine (Mineral Processing Plant) |
Ore Type | Lead-Zinc |
Feed Material | +12–90 mm, raw ore grade 12% Pb+Zn |
Processing Capacity | 2,600 t/d |
Challenge | Lifting feed grade ahead of a large-scale (2,600 t/d) grinding and flotation circuit without a significant drop in throughput, given the ore’s already comparatively high starting grade |
Solution
Sensor-based ore sorters were installed ahead of the plant's grinding and flotation circuit to pre-concentrate the +12–90mm fraction, rejecting 16–17% of feed as waste rock (with elevated sulfur content) and lifting the combined Pb+Zn grade by 1.08 percentage points before further processing.
Equipment and Performance
1. Sensor-Based Pre-Concentration
● Machines Used: Sensor-based ore sorters
● Feed Particle Size: +12–90mm
● Processing Capacity: 2,600 t/d
● Function: Removes waste rock (elevated sulfur, low Pb+Zn) from +12–90mm feed ahead of grinding and flotation
Sorting Results
● Raw Ore Grade: 12% Pb+Zn● Waste Rock Grade: 0.3% Pb+Zn, 3.8% Sulfur
● Rejection Rate: 16–17%
● Grade Increase After Pre-Concentration: +1.08 percentage points Pb+Zn
Benefits and Outcomes
● Economic Efficiency: At 2,600 t/d, even a 16–17% rejection rate removes several hundred tonnes of waste rock a day before it reaches grinding and flotation, cutting the energy and reagent cost of processing material that was never going to yield metal.
● Environmental Impact: Rejecting waste rock with elevated sulfur content (3.8%) before it enters the plant keeps acid-generating material out of the downstream circuit and tailings stream.
● Operational Efficiency: A 1.08 percentage point lift in combined Pb+Zn feed grade, delivered before grinding, gives the flotation circuit a steadier, richer feed to work with.
Conclusion
At Fankou, sensor-based sorting shows that pre-concentration adds value even on already rich ore: rejecting 16–17% of feed at 2,600 t/d lifts the combined Pb+Zn grade by over a full percentage point and strips sulfur-bearing waste rock out of the circuit before it reaches the plant.
Are you considering pre-concentration for a lead-zinc, molybdenum, or polymetallic operation?
Talk to John Finlay’s ore sorting team about a feasibility assessment for your ore body.
Request a Feasibility Assessment