The Principle of Gold Recovery in a Gold Mill

The gold mill (also known as a wet mill) is a core piece of equipment in the beneficiation and processing of placer and vein gold ores. Its core principle involves the enrichment of gold through a combination of crushing, grinding, and gravity separation. During operation, gold ore and water are added to the grinding pan in a specific ratio. Two grinding wheels, driven by an electric motor, rotate at low speed, applying compressive and shear forces to the ore. This grinds the ore into fine particles, allowing the encapsulated gold particles to be fully liberated. Simultaneously, the grinding wheels agitate the slurry, utilizing gold’s high density to cause the gold particles to settle under the influence of gravity into the grooves at the bottom of the grinding pan. Mercury or cyanide reagents (optional) added during the process combine with the liberated gold particles to form amalgams or complexes, further enhancing gold recovery efficiency. After grinding is complete, the surface slurry tailings are discharged, and the gold-enriched slurry at the bottom is collected; following subsequent purification, finished gold is obtained. This equipment combines crushing, grinding, and separation functions, making it suitable for small and medium-sized gold mines, with particularly effective results in processing sticky ores.