Mining processes cover flotation, heavy-media separation, hydrometallurgical leaching, tailings handling. Slurry density, particle size, temperature, and pH differ in each. This guide gives recommendations by ore type and process stage.
Mining Slurry Density Meter Selection Guide
Mining slurry's three defining traits — high abrasion, high concentration, process diversity — make density meter selection start from abrasion-resistant design. This guide walks recommendations by mining process step.
Steps
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Flotation circuits
Conditions: solids 25~40%, ambient or heated flotation ≤ 90°C, pH 8~10 (Cu flotation) or 4~6 (Pb/Zn flotation), high bubble content. Recommended PS7000 (bubble-immune + abrasion-resistant). Secondary PS7500 Na22 nuclear for extreme abrasion. -
Heavy media separation
Conditions: magnetite + water suspension, density 1.4~1.8 g/cm³, solids 30~45%. Traditionally radiometric — replace with PS7000. After three PS7000s came online, working density variation tightened from ±0.03 g/cm³ to ±0.008 g/cm³, with clean coal ash down 0.4 percentage points. -
Hydrometallurgical leach
Conditions: leach temperature 60~110°C (atmospheric) or 150~250°C (HPAL high-pressure), strong acid / alkali. Atmospheric: PS7400 (titanium / Hastelloy + PTFE coating). High-pressure: custom PS7400 + remote transmitter, or PS7500 Na22 nuclear. -
Tailings line / tailings dam
Conditions: solids 30~60%, particles up to 5 mm, ambient. Recommended PS7000 (preferred) or PS7300 DP (cost-effective for large bore DN400+).