Abstract
The Tahmoor mine is located some 80 km south-west of Sydney in the South Western coal mining district of New South Wales.
Construction of the Coal Preparation Plant was completed in June 1981. Since this time the plant has processed all run of mine production on a two shift per day basis.
The plant is a nominal 300 tonne per hour single module unit. Plant design consists of jig washing and froth flotation of the fines, with the option of dense medium separation if the raw coal quality warrants the production of a middlings product.
From an engineering point of view the special features of the Tahmoor Plant are:-
1. The Baum jig has 10 compartments and three elevators. This allows middlings recycling in the third elevator.
2. The Leebar bath was selected because of its capability for a low S.G. cut and its mechanical reliability.
3. The selection of an Enviroclear thickener for tailings thickening.
4. A mechanical tailings dewatering plant which includes a solid bowl centrifuge and a band press filter. Major emphasis is placed on all aspects of quality control and plant efficiency. This is reflected in the consistency of product and reliability in operation of the plant.
