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Gravity Concentration Equipment for Fine Mineral Separation
LIPU shaking tables are gravity concentration machines designed for separating fine mineral particles according to differences in density.
The table combines reciprocating deck motion, transverse water flow and an adjustable deck slope to separate valuable heavy minerals from lighter gangue.
Shaking tables are widely used in gold, tin, tungsten, chromite, manganese, tantalum, niobium and other mineral processing applications.
A shaking table is a gravity separation machine used to concentrate minerals with different specific gravities.
The ore slurry is distributed across an inclined riffled deck.
As the deck moves back and forth, particles are stratified according to density and particle size.
At the same time, water flows across the deck surface.
Heavier particles tend to remain closer to the riffles and move toward the concentrate side, while lighter particles are washed toward the tailings side.
This allows the shaking table to produce separate concentrate, middlings and tailings streams.
The shaking table uses three main operating effects:
During operation:
The final separation pattern depends on mineral density, particle size, feed rate, water flow and deck adjustment.
A typical shaking table includes:
The deck surface and riffle configuration are selected according to feed particle size and separation requirements.
Different deck designs are used for different particle-size ranges.
The coarse sand deck is designed for relatively coarse mineral particles.
It is commonly used where the feed contains larger particles and a stronger riffle structure is required.
The fine sand deck is suitable for finer mineral particles.
It provides more controlled stratification and water flow for fine-grained gravity separation.
The slime deck is designed for very fine mineral particles.
It uses a finer deck structure and is typically applied where the feed contains a high proportion of fine material.
Selecting the correct deck type is important because particle size directly affects stratification and separation performance.
Shaking tables are suitable for minerals that can be separated according to differences in specific gravity.
Typical materials include:
Typical applications include:
Shaking tables are often installed after crushing, grinding and classification.
In a typical gravity concentration circuit, a Jaw Crusher reduces the raw ore size before a Ball Mill provides further grinding and mineral liberation. A Spiral Classifier can then control the particle-size range before the slurry enters the shaking table.
A typical process may be:
Raw Ore → Jaw Crusher → Ball Mill → Spiral Classifier → Shaking Table → Concentrate / Middlings / Tailings
Shaking tables can also be used after other gravity separation stages for concentrate cleaning or final upgrading.
One of the main advantages of a shaking table is the visible separation pattern formed across the deck.
During stable operation, three main product zones can usually be observed:
The concentrate zone contains the highest proportion of dense valuable minerals.
These particles remain closer to the riffles and move along the deck toward the concentrate discharge side.
The middlings zone contains particles with intermediate density or partially liberated valuable minerals.
Depending on the process, middlings may be returned for regrinding or further separation.
The tailings zone contains lighter gangue particles.
These particles are carried more strongly by the transverse water flow toward the tailings discharge side.
The position and width of these three zones can be adjusted through feed rate, water flow, stroke, frequency and deck slope.
LIPU provides different shaking table deck sizes for coarse sand, fine sand and slime separation.
Typical parameters include:
| Model / Deck Type | Deck Size (mm) | Max. Feed Size (mm) | Capacity | Feed Density (%) | Stroke (mm) | Frequency | Motor Power (kW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coarse Sand Deck | 4450 × 1855/1546 | ≤2 | 30–60 t/d | 25–30 | 16–22 | 45–48 | 1.1 |
| Fine Sand Deck | 4450 × 1855/1546 | ≤0.5 | 10–20 t/d | 20–25 | 11–16 | 18–53 | 1.1 |
| Slime Deck | 4450 × 1855/1546 | ≤0.15 | 15–25 t/d | 15–25 | 8–16 | 50–57 | 1.1 |
| 3000 mm Deck | 3000 × 1320/1100 | 0.1–2 | 0.4–1.5 t/h | 10–30 | 6–30 | 210–320 | 1.1 |
| 2100 mm Deck | 2100 × 1050/850 | 0.074–2 | 0.3–0.8 t/h | 10–30 | 12–28 | 250–450 | 1.1 |
| 1100 mm Deck | 1100 × 500/430 | 0.074–2 | 0.05–0.2 t/h | 10–30 | 9–17 | 280–460 | 1.1 |
Different table models are available for laboratory, small-scale and industrial mineral processing applications.
The final model should be selected according to feed size, mineral density, required capacity and target recovery performance.
Shaking table selection should be based on the characteristics of the feed and the required separation result.
Important information includes:
Particle size is one of the most important selection factors.
Coarse, fine and slime particles behave differently on the table deck.
A suitable deck type should therefore match the actual feed size distribution.
The greater the density difference between valuable minerals and gangue, the easier gravity separation generally becomes.
Minerals with only a small density difference may require finer feed preparation and more careful table adjustment.
Shaking tables perform best with relatively narrow and controlled particle-size ranges.
Screening or classification before the shaking table can improve separation stability.
Excessive feed can overload the deck and reduce separation quality.
The feed rate should match the table size and particle-size range.
LIPU Heavy Industry provides shaking tables and complete gravity separation systems for mineral processing plants.
Project support can include:
Shaking tables can be integrated with crushing, grinding, classification and other gravity separation equipment as part of a complete beneficiation circuit.
What minerals can a shaking table separate?
Shaking tables are commonly used for gold, tin, tungsten, chromite, manganese, tantalum, niobium and other heavy minerals.
What feed size is suitable for a shaking table?
The suitable feed size depends on the deck type. Coarse sand, fine sand and slime decks are designed for different particle-size ranges.
Can a shaking table produce concentrate and tailings in one step?
A shaking table can separate concentrate, middlings and tailings, but some ores may require multiple stages of cleaning or reprocessing to reach the required grade and recovery.
What affects shaking table separation performance?
Important factors include particle size, density difference, feed rate, slurry density, water flow, stroke, frequency and deck slope.
Can a shaking table be used after a ball mill?
Yes. Shaking tables are commonly used after grinding and classification when the mineral has been sufficiently liberated for gravity separation.
We provide a variety of mining and processing equipment, including feeders, rock crushers, grinders, classifying and screening machines, washing machines, gravity separators, flotation machines, magnetic separators, electric separators, dewatering equipment and laboratory mineral processing equipment.
