खनन उपकरण गाइड: What Equipment Should You Use for Fine Iron, Ilmenite, Tungsten, Tin, Tantalum and Niobium Gravity Separation? A Complete Guide to Spire Chutes

Spiral chute is suitable for sorting and sorting fine materials with particle sizes of 0.3-0.02 mm, such as iron ore, ilmenite, chromite, pyrite, zircon, rutile, monazite, phosphate, tungsten, tin, tantalum, niobium, and other non-ferrous, rare, and non-metallic minerals with different specific gravitys. This equipment features stable and easy control of the sorting process, a wide allowable range of feed concentration variation, high enrichment ratio, high recovery rate, small footprint, low water consumption, simple structure, no need for power, large processing capacity, easy installation, convenient operation, and low investment with quick results. Spiral chutes are mainly used in industries such as ferrous metals (recovery of hematite, hematite, limonite, siderite, ilmenite, manganese, etc.), non-ferrous metals (separation of minerals such as wolframite and garnet), rare metals (recovery of tantalum-niobium, lithium-iron mica, monazite, yttrium, tantalum, etc.), non-metallic (purification and removal of quartz, feldspar, kaolin, refractory materials), as well as mining operations, beneficiation plants, gravity beneficiation production lines, and other scenarios. People who need spiral chutes include concentrators, mining enterprises, rare metal recycling companies, gravity concentrators, EPC engineering contractors for beneficiation equipment, equipment distributors and inventors, and overseas mining project buyers. Under what circumstances should you choose or replace spiral chutes? When sorting fine materials with a particle size of 0.3-0.02 mm, such as iron ore, ilmenite, tungsten, tin ore, etc.; When old beneficiation equipment has a low enrichment ratio, poor recovery rate, high water consumption, or large occupying space; When a new beneficiation plant or gravity beneficiation production line requires high-efficiency weighting equipment; When export projects require overseas voltage and high-efficiency beneficiation conditions, spiral chutes should be prioritized. How to choose a spiral chute? Step one: Confirm the material properties and select the corresponding model based on material type, particle size range, and specific gravity differences; Step two: confirm outer and inner diameters, selecting outer diameters of 400-2000mm and inner diameters of 180-2000mm based on processing capacity and site space; Step three: confirm the pitch and diameter ratio, selecting pitch 180-1200mm and diameter ratio 0.45-0.6 based on material particle size; Step four: confirm the number of screw heads and support distance, and select screw head number 9 and support distance 1-4mm based on processing capacity and sorting requirements; Step 5: Confirm feed particle size and feed concentration. Feed particle size: 0.02-4mm; Feed concentration: 20%-50%. Step 6: Confirm production capacity and footprint. According to production line capacity requirements, select 0.2-45 t/h, footprint 0.25-5.7 m². Step 7: Confirm height. Choose 1.3-6 m according to site space. Step 8: Confirm installation foundation. Must be installed on a solid concrete foundation, fixed with anchor bolts, and may be equipped with a dust removal system and central control system.

Spiral chute specifications and performance parameters table

Model	Outer diameter (mm)	Inner diameter (mm)	Pitch (mm)	Diameter-to-pitch ratio	Number of spiral starts	Support distance (mm)	Spacing (mm)	Feed particle size (mm)	Feed concentration (%)	Production capacity (t/h)	Footprint (m²)	Height (m)
D12000	2000	2000	1200	0.6	9	2-4	3.5	0.04-4	20-40	15-45	5.7	6-3
D11500	1500	1500	900	0.6	9	2-4	3.5	0.03-0.3	20-45	10-25	5.8	5-8
D11200	1200	1200	720	0.6	9	2-4	4.5	0.03-0.3	30-50	4-6	2	5
L1900	900	900	540	0.6	9	2-3	4.5	0.03-0.3	30-50	2-3	1.2	3.2-4.2
L1500	600	600	360	0.6	9	1-2	4.5	0.02-0.2	30-50	0.8-1.2	0.5	2.6
L1400	400	400	180	0.45	9	1-2	4.5	0.02-0.2	30-50	0.5-0.2	0.25	1.3

General technical parameters table

Parameter	Specification
Type	Spiral chute (gravity concentration equipment)
Outer diameter	400–2000 mm
Inner diameter	180–2000 mm
Pitch	180–1200 mm
Diameter-to-pitch ratio	0.45–0.6
Number of spiral starts	9
Support distance	1–4 mm
Spacing	3.5–4.5 mm
Feed particle size	0.02–4 mm
Feed concentration	20%–50%
Production capacity	0.2–45 t/h
Footprint	0.25–5.7 m²
Height	1.3–6 m
Core advantages	Stable separation, easy to control, high enrichment ratio, high recovery, small footprint, low water consumption, no power required, high processing capacity, low investment with quick results
Applicable scenarios	Gravity separation of iron ore, ilmenite, chromite, tungsten ore, tin ore, tantalum-niobium ore, and other non-ferrous metals, rare metals, and non-metallic minerals

Dimension drawings and key dimensions

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Material table

Components	Standard materials	Optional materials	Description
Spiral chute body	Fiberglass	Polyurethane, carbon steel, stainless steel	Core sorting component, requires wear and corrosion resistance
Feed chute / discharge chute	Fiberglass	Stainless steel, wear-resistant alloy	Bearing slurry, needs rust resistance and wear resistance
Frame	Carbon steel	Stainless steel	Supports the self-weight of the equipment and operational load
Support column	Carbon steel	Stainless steel	Supports the spiral chute body, requires good rigidity
Fasteners	Stainless steel	Galvanized steel	Rust and corrosion protection
Wear-resistant coating	Polyurethane	Ceramic composite	Extend the service life of the chute body
Control box	Carbon steel / stainless steel	Rainproof and dustproof type	Optional variable frequency speed control (although power is not required, can be used with auxiliary equipment)

Installation method

The spiral chute must be installed on a solid concrete foundation, which must bear the equipment's own weight and dynamic loads during operation; Ensure the foundation levelness meets requirements during installation, and anchor bolts are tightened according to torque requirements; After the equipment is in position, adjust the leveling to ensure the helical chute is installed vertically and all screw heads are securely connected; The feed and discharge chutes must be properly connected to pipelines according to process requirements to ensure even slurry distribution; After installation, conduct no-load trial runs to check whether the helical chute is stable and free of abnormal vibration and noise; During load trial runs, gradually increase the feed rate, observe the sorting effect and slurry flow status, and ensure the feed concentration and quantity meet requirements; A dust removal system is required to reduce dust pollution; A central control system can be equipped to achieve online monitoring and automatic control.

Application Scenario Table

Industry	Application	Recommended configuration	Key requirements
Ferrous metal	Recovery of pseudo-hematite, hematite, limonite, siderite, ilmenite, and manganese	D12000–L1400	High enrichment ratio, high recovery rate, and large processing capacity
Non-ferrous metals	Separation of minerals such as wolframite ore and garnet	D11500–L1500	Stable selection, easy control, and excellent sorting performance
Rare metal	Recovery of tantalum-niobium iron ore, lithium-iron mica, monazite, yttrium phosphate, and tantalum	D11200–L1500	High recovery rate and large processing capacity
Non-metallic ore	Purification and impurity removal of quartz, feldspar, kaolin, and refractory materials	D11200–L1400	Good removal effect without damaging materials
Ore Processing Plant	Gravity Separation of Fine-Grain Materials	D12000–L1900	Small footprint, low water consumption, no power required

Attention

The spiral chute is suitable for separating fine materials with a particle size of 0.3-0.02 mm, including iron ore, ilmenite, chromite, pyrite, zircon, rutile, monazite, phosphate, tungsten ore, tin ore, tantalum ore, niobium ore, as well as other non-ferrous metals, rare metals, and non-metallic minerals with differences in specific gravity. The equipment requires no power, offering the advantages of stable separation process, high concentration ratio, high recovery rate, small footprint, low water consumption, simple structure, large processing capacity, low investment, and quick results. In explosive environments, an explosion-proof motor should be selected. For highly abrasive materials, it is recommended to use a chute made of fiberglass, polyurethane, or ceramic composite wear-resistant materials.

## Technical FAQ

1. What is a spiral chute?

A spiral chute is a gravity separation device suitable for separating fine materials with a particle size of 0.3-0.02 mm, including iron ore, ilmenite, chromite, pyrite, zircon, rutile, monazite, phosphate, tungsten ore, tin ore, tantalum ore, niobium ore, and other non-ferrous, rare, and non-metallic minerals with differences in specific gravity.

2. What is the working principle of a spiral chute?

Ore slurry is fed from the top of the spiral chute and flows downward along the spiral surface. Under the combined action of gravity, centrifugal force, friction, water impact, and buoyancy, mineral particles with different specific gravities and particle sizes are layered. Concentrates are discharged along the inner edge of the chute, while tailings are discharged along the outer edge, achieving separation.

3. What models of spiral chutes are available?

Spiral chute models include D12000, D11500, D11200, L1900, L1500, and L1400.

4. What are the outer and inner diameters of a spiral chute?

The outer diameter is 400-2000 mm and the inner diameter is 180-2000 mm, varying according to the model.

5. What are the pitch and diameter ratio of a spiral chute?

The pitch ranges from 180-1200 mm, and the diameter ratio is 0.45-0.6, depending on the model.

6. What are the feed particle size and concentration for a spiral chute?

The feed particle size is 0.02-4 mm with a feed concentration of 20%-50%, varying according to the model.

7. What are the production capacity and footprint of a spiral chute?

Production capacity: 0.2-45 t/h, occupying an area of 0.25-5.7 m², varying according to the model.

8. What is the height of the spiral chute?

Height: 1.3-6 m, varying according to the model. L1400 is 1.3 m, D12000 is 6-3 m.

9. How many spiral heads does the spiral chute have?

The number of spiral heads is 9.

10. What are the wear parts of the spiral chute?

Spiral trough body, feed chute, discharge chute, etc. Among them, the spiral trough body is the core wear part, recommended to be made of fiberglass, polyurethane, or ceramic composite materials.

11. What are the common faults of the spiral chute?

Trough wear (materials are highly abrasive), uneven feed (slurry distributor blockage or wear), poor separation effect (improper feed concentration or feed amount), loose trough connection (fasteners loosened or foundation subsided).

12. Does the spiral chute require a foundation?

Yes. It needs to be installed on a solid concrete foundation, which should bear the weight of the equipment and the dynamic load during operation, with anchor bolts fixed.

13. Does the spiral chute require power?

No. The spiral chute does not require power; it relies on the weight of the slurry and gravity separation, making it an energy-saving gravity separation equipment.

14. What materials are suitable for the spiral chute?

Suitable for iron ore, ilmenite, chromite, pyrite, zircon, rutile, monazite, phosphorite, tungsten ore, tin ore, tantalum ore, niobium ore, as well as other non-ferrous metals, rare metals, and non-metallic minerals with differences in specific gravity.

15. Can the spiral chute be customized?

Yes, the outer diameter, inner diameter, pitch, diameter ratio, number of spiral heads, trough material (fiberglass/polyurethane/stainless steel), feed chute and discharge chute materials, and central control system can be customized.

16. What is the difference between a spiral chute and a shaking table?

Spiral chute requires no power, has a large handling capacity, occupies a small area, is suitable for processing fine particles, and has a high concentration ratio; shaking table requires power, has a relatively small handling capacity, but the separation process is stable and easy to control, suitable for processing ore and slime, with a higher concentration ratio and recovery rate. The two are often used together to form a complete gravity separation process.

17. How to maintain a spiral chute?

Regularly check the spiral chute body and feed chute for wear, and replace or repair in time; regularly check whether fasteners are loose; regularly clean the accumulated material and debris in the chute; regularly check whether the slurry distributor is blocked or worn; regularly check whether the foundation has subsided or cracked.

18. Does the spiral chute comply with RoHS and REACH?

Standard equipment complies with RoHS and REACH regulations and does not contain SVHC substances of very high concern. The specifics are subject to the product inspection report.

19. How to choose the model of a spiral chute?

Determine applicability based on the type and particle size of the material, select the outer and inner diameters based on processing capacity and site space, select the pitch and diameter ratio based on particle size, choose the corresponding model within the 0.2-45t/h range based on production line capacity requirements, and select a height of 1.3-6m based on site space.

20. How to use a spiral chute in conjunction with a double-lift pulsating high-gradient magnetic separator?

The spiral chute can be used for pre-concentration or rough separation to preliminarily separate heavy minerals from fine particles, and then feed them into the double-lift pulsating high-gradient magnetic separator for final selection, further improving concentrate grade and recovery rate, forming a complete gravity-magnetic combined process.

Technical FAQ

Which test data improves equipment selection?

Provide feed assay, particle-size distribution, slurry density, liberation size and target recovery or concentrate grade.

Can one machine handle every ore?

No. Mineral properties and process conditions change the required separation method, size and configuration.

Authoritative references

For standards and safety context, see ISO standards and the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. Confirm the exact local requirements for your project.

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