Rheological Measurements on Settling Suspensions: Characterization of a Cyanide Leach Pulp

Abstract

An elongated concentric cylinder cup and bob viscometer fixture was designed to study the rheological properties of unstable magnetite suspensions. The fixture and its use in characterizing the rheological properties of a cyanide leach slurry are described.

The cyanide leach slurry exhibited yield shear thinning flow properties which were modeled using the Casson Equation. The flow properties were affected most by parameters that contributed to the yield stress. Increasing the solid content and pH and decreasing the particle size caused the yield stress to increase. Changes in parameters also affected the Casson viscosity. Increasing the solid content, pH (Ca(OH)₂) and grind size increased the viscosity.

Keywords:

• Rheology
• settling suspensions
• cyanide leaching

Additional information

Notes on contributors

BERN KLEIN

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