Konglomerat

Jenis
Sedimentary rock (clastic)

Komposisi
Rounded clasts (pebbles, cobbles) + matrix (sand, silt, clay)

Common Minerals
Gold (Au), diamonds (C), cassiterite (SnO₂), ilmenite (FeTiO₃), quartz (SiO₂)

Klasifikasi Mineral
Polymictic (mixed clasts) / Oligomictic (single dominant clast)

Hardness (Mohs)
Variable (4–7, depends on clasts: quartz = 7, gold = 2.5–3)

Grain Size
Clasts: >2 mm (pebbles to boulders); Matrix: sand/silt (<2 mm)

Warna
Multicolored (clast-dependent), often gray, brown, or reddish

Kilau
Clasts: vitreous (quartz), metallic (gold); Matrix: dull

Patah tulang
Irregular (clasts may break conchoidally)

The conglomerate is a sedimentary rock made of rounded pebbles and sand that is usually held together (cemented) by silica, calcite, or iron oxide. It is a stone similar to sandstone, but the rock particles are rounded or angular gravel rather than sand.

Konglomerat adalah batuan berbutir kasar yang sering terbentuk di dasar sungai. Kerikil dan pasir dapat terdiri dari berbagai macam mineral, tetapi biasanya terdiri dari mineral berbasis kuarsa.

Konglomerat memiliki kekerasan yang bervariasi, dan sering kali terlihat seperti beton. Biasanya ditemukan di sebagian besar lapisan yang tebal dan bertingkat-tingkat. Lapisan konglomerat sering kali merupakan reservoir air dan minyak bumi di bawah tanah. Konglomerat digunakan dalam industri konstruksi sebagai batu hias.

Conglomerates (sedimentary rocks with rounded clasts in a finer matrix) often host gold, diamonds, tin, or heavy minerals (e.g., zircon, rutile). Their processing depends on ore type, grain size, and liberation characteristics.

1.Crushing & Scrubbing (Deagglomeration)

• Penghancuran kasar (Jaw → Cone crusher) if clasts are >50 mm.
• Rotary scrubbers atau scrubber gesekan remove clay and break loosely cemented matrix.
  → Prevents “slime blinding” in later gravity separation.

2. Screening & Classification

• Trommel screens separate oversized waste (+50 mm).
• Hydrocyclones atau layar bergetar classify finer fractions for gravity concentration.

3. Gravity Separation (Primary Method)

1. Jig (for coarse gold/heavy minerals).
2. Konsentrator spiral (for medium sand-sized particles).
3. Meja goyang (for fine gold/mixed concentrates).
4. Konsentrator sentrifugal (Knelson/Falcon – high recovery of micron gold).

✓ Best for: Alluvial-type conglomerates (e.g., Witwatersrand gold, Namibian diamonds).

4. Flotation or Leaching (If Needed)

• Flotasi: Useful for sulfide minerals in the matrix (e.g., pyrite-associated gold).
• Cyanidation (CIL/CIP): If gold is liberated but too fine for gravity.
• Dense Media Separation (DMS): For diamond/tin-bearing conglomerates (using ferrosilicon slurry).

5. Tailings Management & Final Recovery

• Slime treatment: If the clay content is high, use thickeners or filter presses.
• Re-processing: Scavenger circuits (e.g., secondary centrifugal concentrators).