The Minerals Research Laboratory facility in Asheville combines mineral processing equipment and an analytical support facility for flexible batch and continuous pilot plant research.
Pilot Plant Studies
![High-efficiency hydraulic separator for mineral concentration, desliming and particle size separation](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/hydrosizer-225x300.gif)
High-efficiency hydraulic separator for mineral concentration, desliming and particle size separation.
![Spiral concentrator used to separate minerals by gravity concentration](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/spiralnew-225x300.gif)
Spiral concentrator used to separate minerals by gravity concentration.
![Pilot plant flotation cell showing details of feldspar concentration in froth](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/flotation-300x225.jpg)
Pilot plant flotation cell showing details of feldspar concentration in froth.
![Pilot plant cyclone for continuous testing](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/cyclone-225x300.gif)
Pilot plant cyclone for continuous testing.
![Kiln and dryer for continuous pilot plant studies](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/kiln4.gif)
Kiln and dryer for continuous pilot plant studies.
![Laboratory high bay area for pilot plant studies](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/highbay-300x225.jpg)
Laboratory high bay area for pilot plant studies.
Bench Laboratory Testing
![Crushing and grinding equipment](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/crush2-300x226.jpg)
Crushing and grinding equipment.
![Separation of minerals by specific gravity using heavy liquids](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/heavy-liq.gif)
Separation of minerals by specific gravity using heavy liquids.
![High intensity dry magnetic (Frantz) separator for mineralogical characterization](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/franz-300x225.jpg)
High intensity dry magnetic (Frantz) separator for mineralogical characterization.
![Gemini table for separation of minerals by gravity](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/gold4.gif)
Gemini table for separation of minerals by gravity.
Mineral Characterization
![Bond grindability unit to determine hardness and grinding characteristics of ores](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/bondmill-300x226.jpg)
Bond grindability unit to determine hardness and grinding characteristics of ores.
![XRF Analyzer](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/xrf-300x225.jpg)
XRF Analyzer
![Contact Angle Analyzer and Microscopes with attached cameras](https://mrl.ies.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/08/contact-angle-analyzer-300x225.jpg)
Contact Angle Analyzer and Microscopes with attached cameras.