The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Tuesday participated in a demonstration of the Knelson concentrator which is a gravity concentration apparatus, mainly used in the gold mining industry for the recovery of fine particles of free gold.
Among those witnessing the demonstration of the eco-friendly mineral processing apparatus at the Guyana Girl Guides Pavilion on Brickdam were senior officials of GGMC, members of Crown Mining Supplies, Univer-sity of Guyana students and Knelson concentrator representatives from South America.
Karen Livan, Manager of the Environmen-tal Division of the GGMC, said that the equipment would demonstrate higher levels of recovery and provide superior technology in the recovery of gold.
She also noted that this is the first of its kind but there are plans to collaborate with members of the mining industry to better develop this endeavour.
Conducting the demonstration, Kevin Peacocke, one of the representatives of Knelson concentrators, said that they themselves had a look at Guyana’s interior and consider that this apparatus can be advantageous.
The first sample used in the demonstration was from Guyana. The material was grounded to an appropriate size, mixed with water and then fed into the machine. Peacocke explained that the heavy component to be recovered is a very small fraction of the total material. For most primary applications the grade of the heavy material will be less than 500 grams/tonnes (0.05% by weight).
Livan later explained that this product is beneficial as it does not involve the use of mercury. She also said that the Knelson concentrator will open the eyes of miners to other possibilities such as the feasibility of recovering other minerals. Moreover the device offers a more efficient method and costs less to upkeep.
The Knelson concentrator, the first of its kind, was developed by Byron Knelson in 1978.
