There have been enormous technological advances in gold extraction since this mine originally opened. Mine owners can reprocess the ancient tailings and now extract additional gold. As back-up to the conveyor system feeding the mixing tank, the FLUMP dredge system provides a secondary continuous feed to the mixing tank.
This particular site needed to move material with a specific gravity of 3.2, a horizontal distance of 328' and 46' vertically while traveling through a 6" pipeline from the reclamation pond (tailings pit) to the agitation tank. SRS Crisafulli provided a 4" J-series FLUMP dredge system equipped with a 13" impeller powered by a 60 hp electrical sludge pump motor. The dredge is controlled from a panel located on the bank of the pond. The dredge has a 102" cutterhead that cuts a 90" path up to 12' deep while creating a slurry mixture consisting of tailings and water with a specific gravity of 1.2, the recommended specific gravity for our pumps.
This mine produces 250,000 ounces of gold a year. At today's gold price that's $416,250,000 of annual revenue. Based on these estimates, our client realized an estimated return on investment in the FLUMP dredge system of 3 months.