Dos Santos Goes From Diamonds to Gold

Marietta, GA -- In cooperation with M3 Engineering of Tuscon, AZ, Dos Santos International LLC has been awarded a contract for an overland conveyor system at Goldcorp’s Los Filos Project. The Los Filos gold mining project is located in the Nukay mining district of central Guerrero State in southern Mexico, and promises to be one of the largest open-pit mines in the country.

Los Filos is a heap leach operation. The ore size is reduced at the crushing plant and then it is hauled to the valley where it is stacked on engineered pads. A chemical solution is sprayed onto the ore, which extracts and absorbs the gold as it trickles through the ore. To regulate seepage rate, an agglomerate (cement) is mixed into the ore for optimal ore exposure to the solution. Ultimately, the solution is directed to the plant where the gold is precipitated out.

A previous system conveyed the ore from the crushing plant to the leach pads via a glory hole ore pass and an underground conveyor, through the hill. An agglomeration drum mixed in the agglomerate before final delivery to the leach pads.

The conveying system experienced material flow problems right from the start, especially during heavy rains. The sticky ore tended to plug up the ore pass. Geological instability ultimately collapsed the ore pass, putting the transport system out of service only four months into its operation.

Against this background M3 Engineering was tasked with developing an alternate conveying route quickly since all haulage was now by truck and very expensive. The logical, most direct and economical path was over the same hill (rather than under). The path required a down-hill high angle conveyor. Thus, Dos Santos International was approached about their DSI Sandwich Belt High Angle Conveyor. Being the best solution, DSI was awarded the contract in March 2009 for a downhill system which they dubbed the DSI G.P.S. (Gently Pressed Sandwich) High Angle Conveyor.

Concerns with geological instability remained, especially along the path of the DSI G.P.S.. Further geological scrutiny led to abandoning this path altogether, thus abandoning the DSI G.P.S. as well.

M3 was again tasked with developing an alternate conveying path. This time a conventional conveyor system was developed, following the already developed truck ramps. Dos Santos International again submitted their proposal for the project, now an overland conveyor system. The project was awarded to DSI May 19, 2009. Engineering is now well underway.

The DSI expertise proved particularly advantageous on this project. The original ten-conveyor-flight system has been rationalized to only seven flights by amalgamating with horizontal curves. Additionally, the third conveyor flight is especially engineered to accomplish the agglomeration by mixing through five intermediate tripped transfers. The en route agglomeration, conceived by Goldcorp, results in substantial savings by eliminating the need for the additional agglomerating drum.

The overland conveying path is predominantly downhill. While this presents the normal controlled starting and stopping problems, it also presents great savings opportunities. The downhill flights are decisively regenerative. Additionally, the drive motors, now generators, will feed back power into the grid which powers the other mine equipment. These carefully engineered conveyors will be equipped with variable frequency drives to ensure operations at maximum efficiency. This is another example of DSI’s commitment to “green” conveying.

In 2008, Dos Santos International installed 5 of their acclaimed DSI Snake Sandwich Belt Conveyors to convey kimberlite (diamonds) for the DeBeer’s company. Although there have been several other notable installations since these, this current project has prompted DSI to say they’ve gone from diamonds to gold.

Dos Santos International

Bulking Up Down-Under

The partnership of Dos Santos International and Cortex Resources will soon commission Australia’s first DSI Snake Sandwich High-Angle Ship Loader. Dos Santos International (DSI) of Winfield, Alabama, USA is the acclaimed world leader in the sandwich belt high angle conveyor technology. Cortex Resources of Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia, is a leader in the materials handling market of Australia and Southeast Asia, with special strength in the dock and yard heavy mobile equipment sector. The combined strengths of the DSI/Cortex partnership have produced the revolutionary DSI Snake Ship Loader and successfully tendered the design to Flinders Ports/Toll Group joint venture for operation at the Port of Adelaide on Australia’s southern coast.

Australia’s first Snake Ship Loader will elevate a variety of high value ores from trucks to ship. The data table below summarizes the design parameters while the figure depicts the arrangement. Materials for export are trucked to the dock and dumped onto a special trap loader type feeder. The ore is fed continuously and uniformly onto the mobile snake’s receiving chute. The Snake Ship Loader elevates the bulk over the ship’s deck to the hatch where it is discharged into the ship’s hold. At the Snake’s discharge, a special telescoping chute, with rotating, pivoting spoon, facilitates even and complete filling of the holds.

The mobile Snake is carried on a tripod of twin motorized rubber tires. Each set of twin tires is mounted at a vertical kingpin and can rotate 360 degrees about that vertical axis. Thus, without repositioning, the Snake can set up to travel in any direction. With the tail tires fixed, the front tires can be oriented and traveled for a slewing motion.

The unit is on a fast track scheduled for a mid-November (2006) start-up. This first DSI Snake Ship Loader for Australia is part of a growing list of DSI Snakes worldwide. It will certainly set the pace for many more high volume high-angle installations at materials handling docks and yards throughout the world.

2006 has been a very successful year for DSI Snakes so far. The Ship Loader is just one of seven Snake units currently in various stages of production. All of these orders were from repeat customers who were clearly pleased with the performance of their initial DSI Snake installations.

Twin Snake units are now installed at diamond mine facilities in Canada’s Northwest Territories and are ready for start-up.

A single unit is now being installed at a Canadian Steel Mill and it will be ready for start-up in November of this year. This Snake will elevate various alloys for the specialty steel making process.

Three (3) Snake units are currently in manufacture scheduled for November 2006 delivery to a gathering yard near Toronto Canada. From there they will be delivered by ice roads to Northern Ontario, to the facilities of another diamond mining project.

DSI Snake Sandwich High-Angle Conveyors prove most economical in the largest of applications. This inspired the DSI Snake slogan, the greater the LOAD, the higher the lift, the better we look!

Dos Santos International is looking forward, with confidence, to continued success in 2006 and beyond.

Please visit our web site at http://www.dossantosintl.com for more information.

Dos Santos International Adds Six New Units in Second Half of 2005

Dos Santos International has had great success with its Snake Sandwich Conveyors in 2005.  The past six months alone have seen as many new units on order.  The units are spread out over three orders from repeat customers.

Snap Lake Snake 1 Snap Lake Snake 2

The first order, placed in July 2005, is for two units to be installed at the Snap Lake diamond mine in Northwest Territories, Canada.  These units will ultimately elevate kimberlite at rates of 500 t/h and 550 t/h up a 49.5 degree incline to 18.3m of lift.  These units are currently in fabrication and will be delivered to Edmonton, from where they will take ice roads to their final destination.  See complete specifications for these units by clicking here or on their pictures.

Victor Snake 1 Victor Snake 2 Victor Snake 3

In November, that customer returned for three more DSI Snakes to be used in the Victor diamond mining project in Northern Ontario, Canada.  These systems range in conveying rate from 185 t/h to 422 t/h, with each lifting wet ore approximately 18.5m.  This project is currently in engineering with delivery expected early 2007.  See these units' complete specifications by clicking here or on their pictures.

Finally, pleased with the success of a previous installation, an eastern Canadian steel mill placed an order for their second DSI Snake in November 2005.  This versatile unit will be handling a variety of materials at rates up to 188 t/h.  This unit, also in engineering, is slated for delivery in mid-2006.  Complete specifications are available by clicking here or on the picture.	DOFASCO Snake

In addition to the above, DSI has executed a number of other projects in 2005 which utilized the broad range of services offered.  Highlights include: Structural and mechanical design for the overhaul of a power plant crusher house Field advisory services for land plant and marine installations Conveyor inspections and investigative analyses ExConTech projects for a variety of conveyors High-tech chute design and modifications Expert witnessing This work, combined with other projects not mentioned, has made for a great 2005.  DSI now looks to the future, with confidence that 2006 will yield even greater success.

DSI Adds Key Officers

Marcus J. dos Santos	Dos Santos International is pleased to announce that Marcus J. Dos Santos joined DSI as partner, on May 1, 2004. Marc was an important part of DSI at its founding in 1997. While still in high school he organized much of the companies computer and communications systems. He remained involved throughout his university studies, co-designed the companies web site and remaining the web site administrator. Marc is a 2002 graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering. During his time at M.I.T., he was involved in many projects including the Robo-Pike and the ARGOS satellite project. These projects involved extensive structural, electrical and controls work. He is joining DSI from Mide' located in Medford, Mass., where he worked in high-tech projects involving piezoelectric (smart) materials, fuel injection for jet fighters and lab software development. His experience and expertise will now serve DSI’s high-tech systems and services. Marc will take on engineering responsibilities including software development.

Dos Santos International is pleased to announce that Amy D. Duncan will join DSI as Public Relations Manager. Amy is a 2004 graduate of the University of Alabama where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. While at the University of Alabama, Amy served as creative director for the Uvote 2004 campaign, an outreach to young unregistered voters. She excelled journalistically with published announcements and on-air interviews. Fluent in Portuguese and proficient in Spanish, Amy has traveled and interacted with various cultures. This will serve DSI well in her duties, including support of DSI representation worldwide. Amy has been married to Steve for nine years and has one daughter, six-year-old Isabelle.	Amy D. Duncan

DSI Snake Start-Up in Spain

Dos Santos International announces DSI Snake Start-Up In Northern Spain

Dos Santos International, USA, announces the start-up of their latest DSI Snake-Sandwich High-Angle conveyor, on the 24^th of July, 2003, at the Aceralia Steel Mill, near Gijon, Asturias, Spain.

The DSI Snake is part of an expansion to the coal grinding, facilities for the carbon injection to the existing and new blast furnaces.  The DSI Snake elevates the total raw coal through-put to a transfer where a bifurcated chute, with flop gate, allows directing the coal flow to the old and new grinding facilities.

Dos Santos International partnered with PHB Weserhutte, of Gijon, contractor for the expansion project, in the supply, installation and start-up of the DSI Snake.

Operating parameters for the new DSI Snake are summarized in the “Technical Data” table.  The DSI Snake is the latest in Sandwich-Belt High-Angle Conveyor technology, employing all and only conventional conveyor equipment and components.  There are no special pressing mechanisms.  A firm yet gentle hugging pressure, imparted to the conveyed material, is induced entirely by radial pressure due to belt tension and the carrying profile.

Though the first DSI Snake Conveyor for PHB Weserhutte and Aceralia this is yet another Snake in a growing list of sandwich belt installations, by Dos Santos International, since 1998.

DSI Installation List | View the PDF version of this announcement.

 

DSI Snake Sandwich Conveyor for PHB Weserhutte S.A. at Aceralia   Material -Coal -Density -0.8 t/cu-m (50 PCF) -Size -50 mm (2") minus Conveying Rate -250 t/h (276 STPH) Conveying Angle -75 degrees Belt Width -1200 mm (47") Belt Speed -2.29 m/s (450 FPM) Lift -35,100 mm (115') Length -45,065 mm (148') Snake Drives   -Top Belt -30 kW (40.2 HP) -Bottom Belt -30 kW (40.2 HP)
Inflection 1 Inflection 2 Loading Area Curve 1 Curve 2

 

DSI Snake Start-Up in Michigan

DSI Snake "24-7" at Empire Mine Empire's DSI Snake commenced production in August of 2001.  Their fourth sandwich-belt high angle conveyor, it features the highest production, the highest incline and the fastest belt speed (see Technical Data Table below, "Dos Santos International Wins High-Angle Conveyor Order"). Part of an employee driven process improvement, the DSI Snake is helping reduce Empire Mining's production costs, delivering substantial, increasing savings well into the future. Contact Dos Santos International. Ask how the DSI Snake can lower your haulage costs DSI Installation List

Head/ Discharge end, shows drive motors on a common base over the top belt return

Lower transition curve to 65o incline

Iron Ore Discharging from Sandwich

Inflection Zone at 80o

Iron Ore Approaching Sandwich Entrance

Dos Santos International Wins High-Angle Conveyor Order

DSI Snake Sandwich Conveyor for Empire Iron Ore Mining Partnership   Material -Iron Ore   -Density -2.4 t/cu-m (150 PCF)   -Size -2 mm (.08") minus Conveying Rate -793 t/h (780 LTPH) Conveying Angle -65 degrees Belt Width -1067 mm (42") Belt Speed -2.29 m/s (450 FPM) Lift -11,522 mm (37.8') Length -21,489 mm (70.5') Snake Drives     -Top Belt -29.8 kW (40 HP)   -Bottom Belt -37.3 kW (50 HP)

Empire Iron Mining Partnership, of Palmer, Michigan, USA selected Dos Santos International, in November of 2000, to engineer and supply a DSI Snake Sandwich High Angle Conveyor for the Empire Mine. The System will deliver crushed iron ore, at 780 long tons per hour (793 t/h), from a roll press, up to a storage and distribution bin. The DSI unit will be delivered in May of 2001 to begin operation by June. Empire’s DSI Snake is part of an employee driven process improvement project. The project will increase plant thru-put by allowing increased utilization of existing crushing and grinding equipment, byre-circulating some of the existing plant product.

The new material transport route resulted in a high incline path, ideal for a DSI Snake Sandwich Conveyor. Additionally the DSI Snake uses all and only conventional conveyor components and smooth surfaced rubber belts that allow continuous cleaning by belt scrapers. Though the first DSI Snake Conveyor for Empire this is the fourth sandwich belt system by Dos Santos International since 1998.