A mining plant may contain many slurry lines, but not every accessible pipe is a useful density measurement point. The correct location is the point that represents the process decision while providing suitable hydraulics, access and reference evidence.
This route map introduces common locations. Final selection still depends on the site flowsheet, control philosophy and operating range.
Start with the process decision, then choose the measurement point
Define what the reading must support: grinding stability, classification, dilution, flotation-feed consistency, thickener operation, pumping, filtration, tailings transport or mass-flow information. Then identify the stream that most directly represents that decision.
The broader mining and mineral-processing hub connects these points into one application pathway.
Grinding circuit and mill discharge
Density information around a grinding circuit can help operators review water balance and changes in circulating material. The value should be interpreted with flow, sump level, pump state, power, pressure and particle-size information. The grinding-circuit guide explains the review questions for mill discharge and related streams.
Hydrocyclone feed
Hydrocyclone feed is a common classification duty because feed condition affects cyclone behaviour. Review the pipe, pressure, flow, air risk, sampling location and the control variable that operators can adjust. Density alone does not describe classification performance.
Use the hydrocyclone-feed density guide to prepare the process and verification data.
Flotation feed
A representative flotation-feed measurement may help operators understand changing solids loading before downstream treatment. Mixing, air, residence time, sampling and composition must be reviewed so that the measured stream matches the control objective. See the flotation-feed application guide.
Thickener underflow
Underflow density can support pumping, filtration and tailings decisions. Piston pumps, low flow, transitions between water and slurry, and changing underflow behaviour can affect the measurement plan. Rhosonics’ Grupo Mexico case combines density with flow for a named mass-flow task at a thickener underflow.
The thickener-underflow guide covers hydraulics, sampling and commissioning evidence.
Tailings, filtration feed and transfer lines
Tailings duties differ between thickener discharge, filtration feed, paste or conventional transport and general transfer. Define whether the signal supports pumping, water recovery, filtration, transported mass or another decision. Long pipelines also require attention to settling, pressure, operating transitions and representative sampling.
Use the tailings monitoring guide to separate these duties before selecting the point.
Apply the same location checklist everywhere
- Does the point represent the stream operators intend to change?
- Will the pipe remain suitably filled across relevant operating states?
- Could air, settling, abrasion or deposits affect the reading?
- Is safe access available for installation, inspection and sampling?
- Can reference samples be matched in time to the online trend?
- Are the required outputs and failure states defined?
Map the application before specifying the analyser
The PMA Application Finder provides direct routes into the mining measurement guides. Use it to move from a broad slurry description to the exact duty, then provide the site data needed for an engineering review.
Sources and further reading
- Rhosonics gold-processing classification case study
- Rhosonics Grupo Mexico thickener-underflow case study
- Rhosonics SDM ECO product information
Map the measurement point: send PMA the flowsheet, stream and operating objective.
