The spiral chute (also known as spiral concentrator or gravity spiral) is a low-cost, high-efficiency gravity separation device widely used in mineral processing. It separates minerals based on density, particle size, and shape by utilizing centrifugal force and water flow along a helical trough.
Feed Size
Motor Power
Processing Capacity
A spiral chute is a gravity-based mineral separation device consisting of a helical trough (usually made of fiberglass or polyurethane) mounted on a central support. Its operation relies on the combined forces of gravity, centrifugal motion, and water flow to separate particles based on density, size, and shape.
As slurry (a mixture of water and mineral particles) is fed into the top of the spiral, it flows downward along the trough’s spiral path. Heavier particles settle closer to the inner edge of the trough, forming a concentrate, while lighter particles are carried toward the outer edge and discharged as tailings. Spiral chutes are highly efficient for processing fine to medium-grained materials (typically 0.074–2 mm) and are particularly effective for fine and heavy mineral separation, making them indispensable in gold, tin, tungsten, iron, and mineral sand processing.
Spiral chutes are extensively used in both placer gold mining and hard rock gold processing. In placer deposits, alluvial materials (sand, gravel, and gold particles) are mixed with water to form a slurry and fed into the spiral.
● Gold, with its high density (19.3 g/cm³), quickly settles along the inner edge of the trough, forming a gold-rich concentrate. Lighter gangue materials (e.g., quartz, clay) are pushed outward by centrifugal force and removed as tailings.
● For hard rock gold ores, after grinding to liberate gold particles, spiral chutes effectively separate fine gold (down to 0.01 mm) from sulfide minerals or silicates, upgrading the concentrate before further processing (such as cyanidation or amalgamation).
● Their ability to handle large volumes of slurry makes them ideal for pre-concentrating low-grade gold ores, reducing the load on downstream equipment.
● Tin ores: Concentrates cassiterite (6.9–7.1 g/cm³) from quartz/feldspar, even from tailings, boosting recovery in tin-rich regions.
● Iron ores: Upgrades hematite (5.26 g/cm³) and magnetite (5.18 g/cm³) by separating from silicate gangue (~2.7 g/cm³), often paired with magnetic separators to cut costs.
● Tungsten ores: Separates wolframite (7.0–7.5 g/cm³) and scheelite (5.9–6.1 g/cm³) from gangue, acting as a pre-concentration step for gravity tables or flotation.
● Mineral sands: Separates ilmenite (4.7–4.9 g/cm³), rutile (4.2–4.3 g/cm³), zircon (4.6–4.7 g/cm³), and monazite (4.6–5.4 g/cm³) from silica (2.65 g/cm³), with adjustable designs for similar-density minerals.
● Base metals: Pre-concentrates galena (7.5 g/cm³), sphalerite (4.0–4.2 g/cm³), and chalcopyrite (4.1–4.3 g/cm³) from gangue, reducing flotation loads and raising concentrate grades.
● Gold Mining & Recovery: Recovering native gold, placer gold, and gold-bearing sulfides from alluvial deposits.
● Tin Ore Processing：Separating tin ore from cassiterite-bearing sands
● Tungsten & Heavy Mineral Sands: Wolframite (Fe,Mn)WO₄, ilmenite (TiO₂), rutile, zircon, garnet
● Iron Ore Beneficiation: Upgrading fine iron ore (0.05–2 mm) by removing silica and alumina
● Coal & Ash Cleaning: Removing pyrite (FeS₂) and heavy minerals from coal slurry
*The output will vary according to different materials, feed particle size and other factors
| Model | 5LL-1500 | 5LL-1200 | 5LL-900 | 5LL-600 | 5LL-400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outer Dia(mm) | 1500 | 1200 | 900 | 600 | 400 |
| Spiral Distance(mm) | 540/720 | 900/720/540 | 675/540/405 | 450/360/270 | 240/180 |
| Spiral Distance Ratio | 0.75/0.6/0.45 | 0.75/0.6/0.45 | 0.75/0.6/0.45 | 0.75/0.6/0.45 | 0.6/0.45 |
| Gradient(°) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Number Of Threads | 4-2 | 4-2 | 4-2 | 3 | 2 |
| Feeding Size(mm) | 0.3-0.02 | 0.3-0.03 | 0.3-0.03 | 0.2-0.02 | 0.2-0.02 |
| Feeding Density(%) | 25-55 | 25-55 | 25-55 | 25-55 | 25-55 |
| Capacity(t/h) | 8-16 | 4-6 | 2-3 | 0.8-1.2 | 0.15-0.2 |
| Overall Dimension(mm) | 1560x1560x5230 | 13601360x5230 | 10601060x4000 | 700x700x2600 | 460x460x1500 |
Profession Achieves High Quality | Built Tough | Works Smarter
Group headquarters: Xiuwu Industry Cluster District, Jiaozuo, ChinaGroup headquarters: Xiuwu Industry Cluster District, Jiaozuo, China
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