Shaking tables for tungsten ore separation
Shaking Tables for Tungsten Ore Separation
1. Basic Definition & Application
Shaking table is the most precise gravity separation machine for fine tungsten ore beneficiation, widely adopted for wolframite (black tungsten) and scheelite (white tungsten) roughing, cleaning and scavenging.
It mainly treats ground tungsten ore with particle size 0.02–2 mm, with optimal recovery range of 0.1–0.8 mm. In tungsten processing flowsheets, it mostly upgrades rough concentrates from jigs, spiral chutes or centrifugal separators into high-grade tungsten concentrate.
2. Working Principle
Separation relies on combined forces: asymmetric longitudinal reciprocating vibration + transverse thin water flow + gravity + particle density difference:
- Slurry is fed evenly at the feed corner of the inclined riffled deck.
- Heavy tungsten particles (high density) sink to the bottom layer between deck riffles; light gangue (quartz, mica, feldspar) floats on top.
- Unequal-speed shaking pushes dense tungsten particles creeping longitudinally toward the concentrate discharge end.
- Cross wash water washes low-density gangue sideways to the tailings outlet.
- Distinct fan-shaped separation bands form: pure tungsten concentrate, middlings, and waste tailings are discharged separately.
Density Reference
- Wolframite: 7.1–7.9 g/cm³ (excellent separation effect, recovery 90%–95%)
- Scheelite: 5.9–6.1 g/cm³ (recovery 85%–90% with optimized parameters)
- Gangue: 2.6–3.0 g/cm³
3. Core Technical Parameters (6-S FRP Standard Shaking Table for Tungsten)
4. Key Advantages for Tungsten Processing
- Ultra-high enrichment ratio: 5–30 times upgrading; rough feed (WO₃ 10–20%) can reach concentrate grade ≥65% in one pass.
- High sorting accuracy: Clear mineral zoning, easy visual monitoring of separation status on deck surface.
- Flexible adjustability: Stroke, frequency, tilt angle and water flow are independently adjustable for variable ore properties.
- Durable FRP deck: Replaces traditional wooden decks; wear-resistant, acid-alkali corrosion proof, low deformation, service life 5–10 years.
- Low operation cost: Simple structure, easy maintenance, low power and water consumption.
5. Typical Tungsten Ore Process Flow with Shaking Tables
Raw ore → Crushing → Ball mill grinding → Pre-concentration (jig/spiral chute roughing) → Shaking table cleaning (main stage).
- High-grade concentrate: direct delivery for smelting
- Middlings: re-scavenged on secondary shaking tables to recover locked tungsten grains
- Tailings: discarded or sent to tailings pond
