Feed Handling

Lead concentrates are received in gondola cars from the Sullivan mine in Kimberley, B.C. and from various other custom concentrators for use in Cominco's Trail Operations for lead production.

After sampling and weighing, these concentrates are unloaded into the feed building which consists of twelve bins, each with 90 tonne capacity for various concentrates, fluxes, silica, residues, and coke. These materials are withdrawn from each bin, according to a charge calculation, by variable speed belts and deposited on a transfer conveyor. This feed mixture is dried and ground to less than one millimeter size before being conveyed to the furnace feed bins. From these bins the feed mixture, coarse coke, and oxygen are fed into the furnace through four reaction shaft burners. In the Lead Smelter Feed Plant, with the proportioning bins at the left rear, lead concentrates are mixed with residues and flux materials before being conveyed to the dryer circuit.

The photograph below depicts the Lead Smelter Feed Plant, with the proportioning bins at the left rear. Lead concentrates are mixed with residues and flux materials before being conveyed to the dryer circuit.

Feed Handling