Uncategorised – Cleveland Silica

20 March 2024

Mission Point Mining Case Study

Since Mission Point Mining replaced their bucket wheel installation with a CDE EvoWash™ and AquaCycle™, demand for their sand products has never been so high.

Tonnage:

130tph

Material:

Sand & Gravel

Output:

0-1mm fine sand

End Use:

Concrete Production

The Challenge

Founded in 2011, Mission Point Mining (MPM) is now a major player in the South African sand production industry and employs 30 people on its mining site in Sasolburg.

The company formerly used a bucket wheel system to wash their product however they were only getting approximately 90% pure silica sand from the wash plant and losing fines. Additionally, the sand was wetter and drying times were affecting the level of output and company efficiencies.

Given the location, the site experiences issues with access to large volumes of water due to government regulations therefore the need to acquire a water recycling system is also necessary.

The Solution

It simply took a visit from CDE to the MPM offices in 2012 to start a conversation on how to maximise production with cyclonic sand washing. As CDE representatives are based locally, there are no communication or time zone barriers.

Smart water management

Working with CDE, MPM installed a CDE EvoWash™ and CDE AquaCycle™. The EvoWash™ 151 processes 90-130tph. To run the EvoWash™, MPM feeds the plant up to 500,000 litres of water per day for a total running time of 11 hours.

To ensure optimal efficiency, the company has put in place highly effective water saving systems benefiting both the business and the environment.

The CDE AquaCycle™ saves up to 90% of waste water whereby MPM’s water recovery system for stockpiles is also instrumental in accelerating the drying process of the end product so that it can be sold quickly to make space for new stockpiles.

“Although the lack of water remains an ongoing issue for mine and quarry operators who produce specialised sand, there is no denying that the market is now requiring that sand is washed to high quality standards. But to wash, you need water, and obtaining a water licence from the government to access larger volumes of fresh water is a lengthy and challenging process, so it is up to us to stay competitive by adopting the best water-saving washing solutions. In MPM’s case, CDE provided the perfect solution.”

– Managing Director of MPM Johann Pretorius

The Results

Since Mission Point Mining switched to the CDE cyclone and water recycling technology, demand for its products has grown to the point that the company expanded their business and explored the best value for money solutions to increase sand production on its mining site.

Johann Pretorius, Managing Director of MPM comments: “We’re one of the few producers who put the effort in and recycle every drop. We are proud of it as we are living proof that in the materials washing sector, being environmentally responsible also makes complete business sense, especially in countries that are vulnerable to drought.”

“Swapping our bucket wheel for a CDE EvoWash™ and AquaCycle™ has been a great investment. We have had no regrets making this decision. The sand quality achieved thanks to the CDE equipment has generated such a boost in demand for our product that we now need to expand our operations.”

“An additional advantage is that we have been able to commit to safer operations as CDE equipment is a high-tech system which is simple to use. Together with well-conceived safety details this guarantees a comfortable working environment.”

“Quality-wise, we are the best. Looking ahead to the future we will add more CDE equipment to meet our rising demand and ensure service excellence.

Stockpiles used to dry for days before being sold but thanks to the CDE water recovery system our product can now be sold within hours.”

Ruchin Garg, Regional Manager, CDE added,“Also, with the installation of our stockpile dewatering system under the main 0-1mm stockpile, the customer produces a sand with below 8% moisture almost immediately, which makes handling of the sand easier and allows for very high savings on drying costs when preparing the product at the company’s drying facility for specialist sands.”

25 January 2017

Water recovery system proves a winner for sand mining company

Admin Uncategorised

Stringent governmental restrictions on water licences in the mining industry is as hot a topic as the ongoing drought, so finding sustainable and cost-efficient methods of washing the sand it produces is a high priority for Mission Point Mining.

Mining operator and managing director of Mission Point Mining in the Free State, Johann Pretorius says: “Although the lack of water remains an ongoing issue for mine and quarry operators who produce specialised sand, there is no denying that the market is now requiring that sand is washed to high quality standards.

But to wash, you need water, and obtaining a water license from the government to access larger volumes of fresh water is a lengthy and challenging process, so it is up to us to stay competitive by adopting the best water-saving washing solutions.”

He says the mine has bought a CDE EvoWash 151 coupled with an AquaCycle 400 water recovery system to treat the raw silica sand, a free-dig alluvial deposit, which produces 130 tonnes per hour of 0-1mm fine sand. The product is sold as plaster and building sand, and as foundry sand for instance to the local specialist sand market.

Pretorius continues: “Since we replaced our bucket wheel with a CDE turnkey plant four years ago, we have witnessed a significant increase in the quality of our product and a no less significant decrease in our water consumption.”

“With our previous bucket wheel system, we were lucky if we were getting 90% pure silica sand from our old wash plant. With our new equipment, we now only get 2% impurities in our product.

Smart water management

MPM feeds the plant up to 500,000 litres of water per day for a total running time of 11 hours. To ensure optimal efficiency, the company has put in place highly effective water saving systems benefiting both the business and the environment.

As well as running a CDE AquaCycle that saves up to 90% of waste water, MPM’s water recovery system for stockpiles is also instrumental in accelerating the drying process of the end product so that it can be sold quickly to make space for new stockpiles.

Pretorius adds: “Stockpiles used to dry for days before being sold but thanks to the new technology our product can now be sold within hours.”