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April - May 2016
MODERN QUARRYING
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for example dredging operations. The
Finesmaster Super Fines enables clas-
sification at approximately 40 microns
for fine sand applications. Each of these
varieties of the Finesmaster range offer
throughputs ranging from 20 to 200 tph.
We can match a machine with a custom-
er’s specific requirements, thus keeping
capital expenditure and running costs
down.”
Cautious optimism
The feedback from Mawsons about the
performance of the combined mobile
wash plant at Whorouly is cautiously
positive, given that the M1700 and the
FM120C has only been in operation for a
short time. “I must say I’m impressed on
the results we’ve had so far,” Gilbert con-
cedes.“It’s just been so trouble-free; we’ve
put the plant to work and we haven’t
done anything too differently. We’ve just
kept our eyes on the water flows but oth-
erwise, it’s taken care of itself, we have not
had an ounce of problems.
“The biggest benefit,” he continues,
“is that we won’t have to clean up our
clay deposits as often now because we
won’t be putting as much out there.
Maybe we can get the cleanouts out to
six months and reduce them further from
there. That has certainly been one major
improvement.”
Murphy says the feedback from
Mawsons has also been encouraging
for MWS. “The feedback from Mawsons
has been very positive and they are par-
ticularly impressed with the ease and
speed of relocation between sites, and
the re-commissioning of the wash plant.
The results from testing of samples that
were processed have indicated a higher
retention of fine sands than previously
achieved which backs up the theory of
the cyclone system. With the addition of
a fines conveyor for the M1700, they are
happy with the versatility this machine
brings to their mobile fleet.
“From the outset, Mawsons have
wanted a system that will produce con-
sistently clean sand and aggregates while
retaining as much bottom end fines as
possible. The second requirement was
that it would be flexible enough to be
re-located between sites with minimal
set-up time.
“Basically, at the end of the day, we
wanted tonnage and to recover what
sand is capable of being recovered for our
concrete plants,” Gilbert sums up. “If you
have to import fine sand, then that costs
us money. If we can reduce those costs by
even five per cent, then we’ve made sig-
nificant savings.”
Mawsons’ Cat 950G wheel
loader feeds the M1700
rinsing screen (centre),
which in turn feeds the
FM120C compact cyclone
wash plant (right).
This article originally appeared in the
December 2015 edition of Quarry.
It reappears in MQ with kind permission.
The FM120C is a modular sand recovery unit
on a single chassis that can clean up to two
grades of sand, and can be employed for
numerous organic and manufactured sand
operations.
SAND PROCESSING
AT THE
QUARRY FACE