CIL & CIP Gold Plants Specifications
The figures below describe typical industry specifications for this class of equipment rather than a single fixed model. Use them to scope a requirement, then confirm exact figures against the supplied unit before purchase.
| Specification | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Typical recovery | 88–95% on free-milling ore |
| Total residence time | 18–36 h across the tank train |
| Number of tanks | 5–8 in series |
| Slurry density | 40–50% solids by mass |
| Grind size | 80% passing 75–150 µm |
| Cyanide concentration | 150–500 ppm NaCN |
| pH control | 10.5–11.5 with lime to suppress HCN |
| Dissolved oxygen | 6–10 ppm, air or oxygen sparged |
| Carbon concentration | 10–25 g/L in the pulp |
| Carbon activity | Regenerated on a kiln cycle to maintain loading |
| Interstage screening | Mechanical or airlift, 0.6–0.8 mm aperture |
| Throughput range | 50–2,000 t/day for modular plants |
What a CIL & CIP Gold Plants Is Used For
- Free-milling hard-rock gold ore
- Oxide and transitional ore treatment
- Gravity tailings scavenging
- Central processing facilities serving multiple small miners
Maintenance Schedule
Most premature failures in this equipment class trace back to a missed routine check rather than a design fault. The intervals below are a practical starting schedule; adjust them to your duty cycle and the manufacturer manual.
| Interval | Task |
|---|---|
| Every shift | Check cyanide and pH in each tank; verify agitator operation and interstage screen flow; monitor dissolved oxygen. |
| Weekly | Carbon inventory and activity check; inspect screens for blinding and carbon bypass. |
| Monthly | Agitator gearbox oil and impeller wear inspection; tank liner and launder condition check. |
| Quarterly | Carbon regeneration kiln service; pump and pipework wear survey. |
| Annually | Tank internal inspection and relining as needed; full cyanide management review against the International Cyanide Management Code. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CIL and CIP?
In CIL, leaching and carbon adsorption happen simultaneously in the same tanks. In CIP, the ore is leached to completion first and carbon adsorption happens in a following train. CIL uses fewer tanks and lower capital cost and suits ore with preg-robbing carbonaceous material; CIP gives cleaner control of each step and slightly better carbon management.
What recovery should a CIL plant achieve?
88–95% on free-milling ore. Refractory ore where gold is locked in sulphides or associated with carbon can drop well below that without pre-treatment such as flotation, roasting or pressure oxidation. Diagnostic leach test work before plant design is essential, not optional.
Is cyanide use legal for gold processing in Tanzania?
Yes, under permit and subject to environmental regulation administered by NEMC and the Mining Commission, with requirements covering storage, tailings containment, monitoring and emergency response. Many operators additionally align with the International Cyanide Management Code. Obtain current legal advice and permits before procuring a plant.
How fine must ore be ground for CIL?
Typically 80% passing 75–150 µm. Finer grinding liberates more gold and lifts recovery, but grinding energy rises steeply and is usually the largest single operating cost. The economic grind size is determined by test work balancing recovery gain against milling cost.
What size CIL plant makes economic sense?
Modular plants from about 50 t/day are commercially available and are commonly used by small to medium Tanzanian operators, sometimes as shared central processing facilities. Below roughly 20–30 t/day, gravity recovery alone is usually the better economic answer.
Supply and Delivery Across Tanzania
Bart Mining supplies cil & cip gold plants and related equipment to mining operations throughout Tanzania, with primary coverage of the Lake Victoria Goldfields (Mwanza, Kahama, Geita, Shinyanga and Bukombe), alongside the Lupa Goldfields around Chunya and Mbeya, and delivery nationwide from Dar es Salaam.
Request a quotation
Need a cil & cip gold plants specified for your site?
Tell us your duty, depth or throughput and available power supply. We will come back with a specification and price, and flag anything on site that needs to change to make it work.