Cost-effective Tin Beneficiation

Mobile, Modular Plant

Thermitin's mobile, modular tin beneficiation aluminothermic plant, is a niche market solution developed by Geratech (holdings company) in South Africa. The objective of the project was to develop process technology with a modular plant that provides an economically viable, smaller-scale and on-site alternative to the large conventional, but expensive foundries traditionally used to produce pure tin.

Empowering Small-scale Miners

The Tin Beneficiation Aluminothermic Plant, or TBMAP, empowers smaller operations with access to minerals such as tin-bearing cassiterite, often in lower grade, to directly enter the higher-value metals market, rather than being dependent on selling their minerals concentrate cheaply to traders or foundries. With its simplicity, low capital costs and low electricity requirements, the TBMAP offers an efficient and cost-effective solution to artisanal mining operators and mineral aggregators seeking to maximise their profits from beneficiating their cassiterite to tin metal.

How it Works

Aluminothermic technology, also known as the thermite process, enables the production of pure tin metal from the tin-bearing mineral cassiterite, using aluminium powder as the reducing agent. The process involves an exothermic reaction between aluminium powder and the cassiterite that does not require electricity. The technology developed focuses on low input cost, a robust, but simple, operation that produces high-purity tin (>99.6% Sn), and reasonable processing yields using various cassiterite grades.

What we offer

By providing containerized modular plants, facilitating access to in-house developed, cost-effective aluminium powder, and making available detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and technical support, we aim to provide clients with a solution to unlock the full potential of their mineral wealth.

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