Maximising the efficiency of gold extraction in the CIL circuit requires frequent, accurate data measurements from various tanks in the plant. 85-90% of gold-in-circuit (GIC) in the processing plant is in the carbon in the CIL tanks. Therefore, accurate measurements of carbon concentrations are required.
Manual data collection is difficult and time-consuming. Tomingley Gold Operations operators had to climb tanks 12m high to collect GIC or samples of gold-bearing carbon in slurry weighing up to 2kg. Operators were trained to collect samples manually at maximum depth reached by extending a scoop into the slurry. This method is prone to errors and individual variation in sampling.
“I was sceptical about the Carbon Scout in the beginning, as manual sampling is the industry standard. After seeing the consistency of results from the Carbon Scout and comparative manual samples I was convinced. The Carbon Scout works; it’s the best in the industry and I recommend it for CIL and CIP circuits”
– Jeffrey Hianjuku
TGO installed a Carbon Scout in 2018. The Carbon Scout collects data more safely, frequently and accurately than manual methods, freeing operators for less repetitive tasks. The Carbon Scout also measures pH and dissolved oxygen levels from the same sample used for measuring carbon concentrations, eliminating the need for multiple probes in each tank.
Without the Carbon Scout, if any carbon concentration result appeared to be incorrect, there was no backup data point for comparison. The Carbon Scout produces a complete set of carbon concentration results every hour to help determine if an unusual result is an outlier. TGO’s monthly metallurgical accounting process has improved significantly through use of the consistent carbon concentration data generated by the Carbon Scout.
