Heavy Liquid Separation

Capability Statement

right solutions | right partner

 Introduction
ALS Metallurgy is part of the ALS Group, a Quality
diversified and global analytical laboratory
ALS understands the value of data quality and integrity to
and testing services company. exploration and mining companies. Our processes are designed
ALS Metallurgy is the global leader in metallurgical testing and to ensure clients receive the best quality assay data to assist
consulting services for mineral process flowsheet development informed decision making. The ALS quality program consists
and optimisation. of a series of checks and balances with monitoring at senior
management levels.
Extensive bench scale laboratory, large scale pilot plant
facilities and expert metallurgists, provide mineral processing,
hydrometallurgical, mineralogical and inplant services to the Health, Safety and Environment
global resources community.
ALS Metallurgy staff are highly trained in the
Our metallurgical solutions are internationally recognised by use of hazardous heavy liquids. We have a
the mining, engineering and financial sectors for all major
commodities: rigorous OH&S programme for heavy liquid
Precious metals gold, silver, platinum group metals
use in order to educate, monitor and protect
Base metals copper, cobalt, lead, zinc, molybdenum, our employees.
manganese Being an employee of ALS is about putting safety first. Globally,
Iron ore hematite, magnetite, goethite, itabirite ALS is committed to a safe work culture.
Nickel laterite & sulphide ores
Uranium & thorium Safety Management
Rare earth minerals & other exotics As part of this global approach, ALS has developed an
Mineral sands industry leading standard for managing health, safety and
Industrial minerals environmental issues.
Tungsten & tin.
Protection of the Environment
ALS Metallurgy has an enviable reputation for delivering the
highest quality extractive metallurgical testing service with ALS has Extensive procedures and policies to ensure Protection
accurate and timely data, expert support and a culture of safety of the Environment. Specific procedures and policies address
and innovation. the following issues:
Waste Management, Monitoring and Maintenance;
Disaster Management plans for spills;
Management of Solid waste, with recycling where possible.

Our dedicated HLS testing team works across a range

of commodities and mineral complexities. We will work
closely with you to design tailored programs that meet
your project requirements in terms of sample availability,
data output and budget constraints.

2| ALS Metallurgy - Heavy Liquid Seperation

Why use Heavy Liquid Choose from a wide range
Separation? of densities
Heavy liquid separation (HLS) tests provide key data for Using heavy liquids including Tetrabromoethane (also known
exploration programmes and process design projects. Most as TBE), Diiodomethane (aka MI, Methylene Iodide) and
commonly, data derived from HLS tests is used for: Clericis Solution (aka Thallium Malonate Formate, TMF), our HLS
Characterising the density parameters of ore samples; laboratory can separate samples into a wide range of specific
Predicting the performance of ores through gravity circuits; gravity (SG) intervals from 1.00 all the way through to 4.05. We
Preconcentrating low grade high density minerals prior to are able to separate samples at a single density, resulting in a
further physical or analytical testing. pair of sinkfloat products, or into a range of density intervals
with a minimum density increment as small as 0.1. If necessary,
At ALS Metallurgy, our dedicated HLS testing team works closely we can modify the tests to produce density fractions up to a
with you and your consultants to design tailored testwork density of about 4.35. Speak to our experts!
programmes to meet your project requirements.
On coarsergrained fractions (greater than 0.5mm), we generally
We are able to provide testwork data on samples across a perform static separations. On size fractions less than 0.5mm
range of commodities including: static or centrifugal separations are performed, dependent
Iron Ores on the mass to be separated, minimum particle size, and the
Mineral Sands number of density fractions to be produced, and whether or not
Base Metals the samples have had fines removed (deslimed). Centrifugal
Precious Metals including Gold and PGMs separations are very effective on finer particles and can be
Uranium used on with reasonable success on samples that have not
Industrial Minerals. been deslimed.
How much sample should I submit?
HLS for Iron Ore This is a commonly asked question and our experts will be
characterization able to assist you in determining this before you submit the
samples! Factors affecting this include:
Data derived from HLS tests on iron ores is chiefly used for The particle size distribution of the sample
ore characteristion and process design. Typically, samples The range of particle size increments required
are screened into a range of size fractions prior to testing, The number of sequential density increments
for example: at which the separations will be performed
6.3 + 2mm Subsequent analyses that are to be performed
2 + 0.5mm on the density fractions
0.5mm + 0.045mm What next?
Each size fraction is then separated into a range of density Once the density fractions have been produced, our inhouse
intervals, for example: 2.6, 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8, & 4.05. analytical, mineralogical and metallurgical teams can provide
For the other commodities, similar procedures are used you with further information about the samples. Speak to us
with the size and density ranges dependent on the project about our comprehensive range of services.
requirements.
Australia
Perth
6 MacAdam Place, Balcatta
Western Australia 6021
T +61 8 9344 2416
F +61 8 9345 4688
E [email protected]

North America
Kamloops
2957 Bowers Place
Kamloops BC V1S 1W5 Canada
T +1 250 828 6157
E [email protected]

Latin America
Santiago Mineral Services Centre
Hermanos Carrera Pinto 159
Parque Industrial Los Libertadores Colina
Santiago, Chile
T +56 2 2654 6100
F +56 2 2654 6163
E [email protected]

right solutions
right partner

www.alsglobal.com