OREANDA-NEWS. A second dry magnetic separation unit (DMS) has been commissioned at ОАО Karelsky Okatysh, a major production and iron ore processing plant in Russia and part of the Resources Division of OAO Severstal, one of the world’s leading steel and steel-related mining companies. The unit, which has received more than 200 million rubles investment, will enable Karelsky Okatysh to enhance operational efficiency.

Karelsky Okatysh’s use of DMS technologies directly at the edge of an open-pit mine where ore undergoes primary breaking is unique within Russian production. Following the DMS process, the fragments move on a conveyor belt to a magnetic separator to be split into two flows: rock and finished ore, with the latter channeled to a crushing-and-dressing plant.

The DMS technology enables a significant reduction in losses that can result from contamination of ore in the ore-shoot and in large-bucket excavation. DMS technology also helps to substantially reduce costs for ore transportation to the dressing plant.

The second DMS unit has been built, developing on experiences gained from the first unit, with a larger coarse-ore bin which facilitates loading from 136−tonne dump trucks. An overhead crane has also been installed with the new unit to facilitate maintenance and repairs, and a modified vibration feeder has also been included. These and other innovations have significantly added to the output of the new unit; whereas DMS-1 processes 3 million tonnes of contaminated ore per annum, DMS-2 is capable of processing 4 million tonnes.

The unit is automated nearly all year round, requiring just a single operator to control both ore breaking and dry ore sorting. Surveillance cameras are installed in the DMS storage bin in the dump truck discharge area for accident prevention purposes.

Anatoly Teryokhin, Technical Director of ОАО Karelsky Okatysh, commented: “The new dry magnetic separation unit is unparalleled in Russian production. We have built on our experiences gained from the first DMS unit which has been operating smoothly for a few years at the edge of the open-pit mine at our Korpangskoye deposit and has provided significant benefits. We were the first Russian plant to use DMS in this way, and we will continue innovate and improve our production processes.”