Heavy Liquid Separation (HLS) testwork provides key data for exploration programmes and process design projects.
Most commonly, data derived from HLS testwork is used for:
- Characterising the density parameters of ore samples
- Predicting the performance of ores through gravity circuits
- Pre-concentrating low grade high density minerals prior to further physical or analytical testing
The dedicated HLS team at ALS designs tailored programmes to meet detailed project requirements. ALS provides testwork on samples across a range of commodities including:
- Iron ores
- Mineral sands
- Base metals
- Precious metals including gold and PGMs
- Uranium
- Industrial minerals
Using heavy liquids including tetrabromoethane (TBE), diiodomethane and Clerici’s solution (Thallium Malonate Formate), the HLS laboratory can separate samples into a wide range of specific gravity intervals from 1.00 through to 4.05. Samples can be separated at a high single density, resulting in sink-float products, or into a range of density intervals with a minimum density increment as small as 0.1.
Separations can be conducted in the size range of 25mm to 500μm in static tests. A centrifuge is also available for fine particle separation down to 45μm.
