Mining
Mazzei mixing, gas injection, and ozone contacting technologies deliver proven solutions across multiple mining applications from gold ore pre-oxidation and cyanide destruction to mineral beneficiation and process water management. With a compact footprint, no moving parts, and energy-efficient operation, Mazzei systems help mining operators improve recovery rates, meet environmental regulations, and reduce operating costs and maintenance demands.
GOLD MINING: PRE-OXIDATION & LEACH ENHANCEMENT
Mazzei venturi injectors and GDT™ systems have been deployed in gold mining operations to inject ozone into ore slurries for pre-oxidation prior to cyanidation. In refractory and double-refractory gold ores where gold is locked within sulfide or carbonaceous mineral matrices, ozone pre-treatment oxidizes these host minerals, liberating gold and significantly improving leach recovery. Research and field applications have demonstrated that Mazzei injectors produce finer bubble sizes than conventional diffusers, improving ozone mass transfer efficiency and reducing gas consumption. At a mining operation in Nome, Alaska, Mazzei’s GDT system was applied to enhance gold processing performance in a challenging environment.
CYANIDE DESTRUCTION & TAILINGS DETOXIFICATION
Ozone is a powerful oxidant for the destruction of free and weak-acid-dissociable (WAD) cyanide in gold mining tailings and process solutions. Mazzei ozone injection systems efficiently dissolve ozone into cyanide-bearing wastewater, converting toxic cyanide to less harmful cyanate and ultimately to carbon dioxide and nitrogen. This enables mining operations to meet increasingly stringent environmental discharge limits and reduce the ecological risk associated with cyanide-containing tailings ponds. Mazzei systems offer an advantage over conventional sparging methods by achieving higher mass transfer rates in a smaller footprint, reducing the required ozone dosage and overall treatment cost.
MINERAL BENEFICIATION & KAOLIN PROCESSING
In kaolin wet-processing operations, ozone is used to oxidize polymers added during upstream flotation and settling, as well as other organic and inorganic impurities that affect final product brightness. At a kaolin beneficiation facility, Mazzei injector-based systems replaced conventional tall sparging columns equipped with 150–250 HP mixers. The Mazzei system—using a compact tank with a 30 HP recirculation pump, a Model 4093 stainless steel injector, and stainless steel nozzles—is designed to handle twice the amount of raw slurry (30–40% solids) at substantially lower energy consumption (approximately 16–17 BHP), while achieving the viscosity reduction targets critical to confirming sufficient polymer oxidation.
SODA ASH MANUFACTURING
Mazzei systems have been successfully applied in soda ash mining and manufacturing operations, where efficient gas–liquid contacting is needed for process optimization and water treatment. Mazzei’s compact, no-moving-parts design integrates readily into existing plant infrastructure, delivering reliable performance and reduced maintenance in the demanding conditions typical of mineral processing environments.
PROCESS WATER & WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Mining operations generate large volumes of process water and wastewater that often require treatment for dissolved metals, organic contaminants, or dissolved oxygen adjustment prior to discharge or aquifer reinjection. Mazzei venturi injectors and Pipeline Flash Reactor™ (PFR) systems can be applied for ozone or oxygen injection into mine wastewater streams to oxidize contaminants, improve water quality, and satisfy regulatory discharge requirements all within a compact, in-line system that eliminates the need for large contact tanks or basins.
Mazzei systems are operating today in mining and mineral processing facilities where operators needed to improve gold recovery, destroy cyanide in tailings, enhance mineral beneficiation, and achieve long-term reliability without adding complexity.
If you are evaluating ways to improve gold leach recovery, meet cyanide discharge compliance, optimize mineral processing, or enhance overall mine water management—whether for a new facility or an existing operation—we would welcome the opportunity to discuss where Mazzei gas-to-liquid contacting solutions can deliver the greatest return.
Performance Data & Drawings
Access performance data and/or drawings for a variety of Mazzei products, including our venturi injectors.
Technical Assistance
Answers to your questions…specifications, installation tips and technical bulletins to assist you with your irrigation project.
Plus explore a comprehensive collection of Mazzei documentation for further assistance.
Knowledge Center
Interested in further details regarding Mazzei products for the agricultural irrigation market?
Explore a wealth of resources including articles, technical papers, case studies, brochures, as well as videos and animations.