What Mine Owners Should Know Before Choosing a ABS Spiral Chute?
Before ordering an ABS spiral chute, check three things: whether your ore responds to gravity separation, what feed conditions the equipment needs, and what the quoted capacity includes. The material specification matters too, but it should not replace an ore test.
A spiral chute, also called a spiral concentrator, is gravity separation equipment that separates particles in flowing slurry. Mineral density, particle size and feed conditions all affect the result.
Here is what to review before requesting a quotation.
1. Start with the Ore, Not the Model
The ore name is only a starting point. For tin ore, chromite or heavy mineral sand, ask which valuable minerals are present and whether they are free from the surrounding waste rock.
Send a representative sample for gravity concentration testing. Include material from the feed you expect to process, rather than selecting only visibly rich pieces.
Ask the test report to show:
- Feed grade and particle-size distribution.
- Feed rate and solids concentration.
- Concentrate grade and recovery.
- Weights and assays of concentrate, middlings and tailings.
A concentrate photo is useful, but it does not tell you how much valuable mineral was lost.
For tailings recovery, check where the remaining value sits across the particle-size range before deciding which material to treat.
2. Check Spiral Chute Feed Size and Slurry Conditions
Ask for the feed-size range of the proposed model. Do not use a figure from another spiral as the design basis.
Review both the coarse fraction and the fine slimes. If screening or desliming is proposed, assay the rejected material before treating it as waste.
During testing, record dry-solids feed rate, water addition and slurry solids concentration. State whether the concentration is measured by mass or volume. These details should also appear in the operating instructions.
You can review the available spiral chute specifications when comparing models. Confirm the feed requirements for your ore before making the final selection.
3. Confirm What Spiral Chute Capacity Means
A quotation stating “tonnes per hour” needs a clear basis.
Does it mean dry solids or total slurry? Is the capacity for one spiral start, one complete unit or a bank of units? A start is an individual helical flow path within the assembly.
Ask the supplier to list:
| Item | What the quotation should state |
|---|---|
| Throughput | Dry tonnes of solids per hour |
| Configuration | Starts per unit and number of units |
| Feed conditions | Particle-size range and solids concentration |
| Separation duty | Roughing, cleaning or scavenging |
| Performance target | Concentrate grade and recovery to be evaluated |
If middlings return to an earlier stage, ask whether that circulating load is included in the equipment sizing.
4. Compare ABS and FRP Specifications
When comparing an ABS spiral chute with an FRP model, request a written material specification.
Confirm whether ABS is used for the trough body, individual sections or other components. Ask whether the working surface has a separate wear layer.
For each quotation, check:
- Unit weight and support-frame requirements.
- Operating temperature and outdoor-exposure limits.
- Compatibility with the process water.
- Wear-surface repair or replacement procedure.
- Spare-section price and availability.
If the equipment is described as modular, ask for an assembly drawing and confirm which parts can be replaced separately.
Do not assume a longer service life from the material name alone. Ask for the conditions behind any wear-life claim.
5. Check Where the Spiral Fits in the Process
A spiral concentrate is not necessarily the final saleable product.
For suitable tin feeds, a shaking table may be evaluated for further cleaning. Heavy mineral sand may need magnetic or electrostatic separation after gravity concentration. The next stage depends on the minerals present and the required product specification.
Request a flowsheet showing where the concentrate, middlings and tailings will go. This makes it easier to compare complete proposals rather than individual machines.
Before installation, also check the feed-distributor height, support arrangement, discharge routes and access for sampling and maintenance.
6. Compare the Full Supply Scope
When comparing spiral chute prices, check what is included.
Ask whether the quotation covers the support frame, feed distributor, product collectors, connecting pipes, spare sections and export packing. List any equipment or site work that must be supplied separately.
A lower machine price is only useful if the supply scope is clear.
Request a Spiral Chute Selection Review
To discuss your project, send your ore details to Dasen Mining, including:
- Ore type and available assay results.
- Feed-size distribution and clay content.
- Required capacity in dry tonnes per hour.
- Target concentrate specification.
- Site location, water supply and existing flowsheet.
If you do not have test results yet, tell us what information is available. Start with the missing ore data before settling on a model.
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