Core Parameters
- Applied Materials: Fine-grained tungsten ore (cassiterite-wolframite paragenic ore)
- Processing Capacity: 100 t/d
- Main Equipment: Next-generation YTO-LL900 vortex-enhanced spiral chutes, YTO-6S-1200 shaking tables with optimized riffles
- Project Location: Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China
- Commissioning Date: January 2023
Project Background
Ganzhou is known as the “Tungsten Capital of China”, accounting for more than 60% of China’s tungsten ore reserves and production. However, most local beneficiation plants were built 10-20 years ago with outdated equipment and processes. The recovery of fine-grained tungsten minerals (-0.037mm) has long been a major technical bottleneck in the industry.
Our client is a large state-owned tungsten mining enterprise in Ganzhou. Their existing processing plant had been operating for 15 years with traditional gravity separation equipment and faced severe operational challenges:
- Extremely low fine-grained recovery: The recovery rate of -0.037mm tungsten particles was only 42%, resulting in millions of yuan in economic losses every year
- High energy consumption: Old equipment had low efficiency, with unit energy consumption 30% higher than the industry average
- Frequent equipment failures: Traditional fiberglass spiral chutes had a short service life of only 2 years, requiring frequent replacement and maintenance
- Planned high-cost investment: The client originally planned to invest 8 million RMB to build a new flotation workshop to recover fine-grained tungsten
The client’s core goal was to improve fine-grained tungsten recovery without significantly increasing operating costs, while avoiding the high investment and environmental risks of flotation processes.
YTO Customized Solution
Based on detailed mineralogical analysis and beneficiation tests, YTO’s technical team proposed a revolutionary gravity separation upgrade solution that completely replaced the flotation workshop plan. This solution achieved higher recovery rates at only 15% of the original investment.
1. Core Equipment Configuration
We completely replaced the old spiral chutes with our patented next-generation vortex-enhanced spiral chutes and upgraded the shaking table circuit:
- 8 sets of YTO-LL900-3 start vortex-enhanced spiral chutes for rougher and scavenger operations
- 12 sets of upgraded YTO-6S-1200 shaking tables with special tungsten ore riffle design for final cleaning
- Redesigned material distribution system to ensure uniform feeding to each equipment
- Retained the original crushing and grinding system to minimize transformation costs
2. Targeted Process Optimization
- Adopted our original “variable pitch + variable cross-section” spiral trough design, creating a stable vortex stratification zone that significantly improves fine particle separation efficiency
- Optimized the process flow to add a secondary scavenging stage, recovering previously lost fine-grained tungsten minerals
- Adjusted operating parameters including pulp concentration, flow rate and bed inclination specifically for Ganzhou tungsten ore characteristics
3. Cost and Efficiency Guarantee
- No need to build a flotation workshop, saving 6.8 million RMB in capital investment
- No chemical reagents required, completely eliminating reagent costs and environmental pollution
- The entire upgrade was completed in only 15 days without affecting normal production
- The new equipment has a service life of 5 years, reducing long-term maintenance costs by 67%
Project Operation Results
Since commissioning in January 2026, the upgraded production line has been operating stably, and all technical indicators have far exceeded the client’s expectations:
| Technical Indicator | Before Upgrade | After Upgrade | Improvement |
| -0.037mm Tungsten Recovery | 42% | 65% | +23% |
| Overall Comprehensive Recovery | 65% | 83% | +18% |
| Unit Processing Energy Consumption | 1.2 kWh/t | 0.9 kWh/t | -25% |
| Annual Equipment Maintenance Cost | 150,000 RMB | 50,000 RMB | -67% |
| Equipment Service Life | 2 years | 5 years | +150% |
Economic Benefits:
- Saved 6.8 million RMB in flotation workshop construction costs
- Annual additional profit of 1.2 million RMB from increased recovery rate
- Annual savings of 100,000 RMB in energy and maintenance costs
- Total investment payback period: less than 10 months
Client Testimonial
“The results are truly revolutionary. We originally thought that only flotation could solve our fine-grained tungsten recovery problem, but YTO proved us wrong. With only 1.2 million RMB investment, we achieved the same recovery effect as the planned 8 million RMB flotation workshop. The equipment is running very stably, and the maintenance cost is much lower than before. This is the most successful technical transformation our plant has ever carried out. We will definitely choose YTO for all future equipment upgrades.”—— Mr. Li Jianguo, Director of the Mineral Processing Plant
YTO Service Commitment
Jiangxi Yituo provides one-stop turnkey services covering ore testing, process design, equipment manufacturing, installation and commissioning, and personnel training. All projects are equipped with dedicated project managers to follow up throughout the process. We provide free repair and replacement during the warranty period, and lifelong technical support and original spare parts supply.