Overview
The Brunswick Processing Plant in Victoria, Australia is a conventional comminution and flotation concentrator that has been processing antimony and gold-rich sulfide ores since 2007. Acquired by Mandalay Resources in late 2009, the plant has undergone several upgrades to achieve current throughput capacities of 10,000-13,000 tonnes/month. The facility operates 24/7 with crushing operations following noise restriction guidelines during extended day shifts.
Key Process Stages
- Crushing & Screening: Two-stage closed circuit using Finlay mobile impact crushers (I-130RS, I-140RS) and cone crusher (C-1540RS) with 35mm and 12mm screens
- Milling: Two ball mills in series with DSM screen and hydrocyclone classification (target P80 of 53µm)
- Gravity Recovery: Centrifugal concentrators recover gold-rich concentrate (55-70% Au recovery) upgraded via shaking table
- Flotation: StackCells (48″) and Denver DR cells (100 & 15) with CavTube columns added in 2021 for tailings reprocessing
- Concentrate Handling: Dual thickener system feeding plate-and-frame filter press for final dewatering
- Tailings Management: Thickened tailings directed to TSFs or underground paste fill operations
Critical Data
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Throughput Capacity | 10,000-14,000 dmt/month |
| Current Average Throughput | 11,000-13,000 dmt/month |
| LoM Antimony Recovery | 90.1% |
| LoM Gold Recovery | 92.2% |
| Gravity Gold Recovery | 55-70% |
| Target Grind Size | P80 53µm |
| Water Consumption | 1.5-2 ML/day (from mine dewatering) |
Recent Upgrades
- 2021: Installation of rougher/cleaner CavTube flotation columns
- 2024: Addition of Finlay C-1540RS mobile cone crusher
- Ongoing: Construction of new TSF (788,000 dmt capacity) for 2025 commissioning
- Paste fill system expansion with new pug mill installation
Circuit Features
The flowsheet combines proven technologies with strategic upgrades: primary crushing with mobile units, efficient gravity gold recovery ahead of flotation, and modern StackCell/CavTube units complementing traditional Denver cells. The dual thickener system allows separate processing of main and low-grade concentrates. Water management includes reverse osmosis treatment and extensive recycling from thickener overflows.
