Skip to main content

Rockster machines operating in Tanzania extraction operation

Rockster’s DUPLEX System is being used in an extraction operation in Tanzania. The PB Mining Company in Tanzania selected Rockster’s 2-in-1 machine for crushing highly abrasive rock. The extraction firm was formed in 2014 and specialises in the exploration of lead glance, named Galena, the natural mineral form of lead sulphide. This is the most important ore of lead and usually contains about 1–2% silver, a byproduct that far outweighs the main lead ore in revenue. Because of its low melting point, it is e
May 14, 2018 Read time: 3 mins
The Rockster Jaw Crusher R800 crushes lead ore in Chunya to a size of 0-40 mm using screenbox and return belt
Rockster’s DUPLEX System is being used in an extraction operation in Tanzania. The PB Mining Company in Tanzania selected Rockster’s 2-in-1 machine for crushing highly abrasive rock.


The extraction firm was formed in 2014 and specialises in the exploration of lead glance, named Galena, the natural mineral form of lead sulphide. This is the most important ore of lead and usually contains about 1–2% silver, a byproduct that far outweighs the main lead ore in revenue. Because of its low melting point, it is easy to liberate by smelting.

The company has many different sites in the Mbeya Region in the United Republic of Tanzania, working in a territory of about 80km2. Exploration works are carried out by excavation as well as using vertical and inclined prospecting drilling, a driving of trenches, vertical and inclined holes.

One of the sites is located near Chunya in Tanzania’s Mbeya Region. The firm started to work at the site in May 2017 first excavating the upper layers of the soil and taking out the first samples of ore for analysis. After positive results of the geological tests the firm started its main extraction operation.

The firm brought in the 8790 Rockster R800 jaw crusher to crush the Galena to a fraction of 0-40mm. To define this final grain size, the firm use an RS83 screenbox with an RB75 return belt on the crushing plant. After that the firm changes the crushing units and continues crushing the 0-40mm material with the impact crusher R900 to a fraction of 0-5 mm. This material is sent to a leaching company to separate the pure ore which is then used for the production of concentrates based on polymetallic ores.

Rockster sales representative Maksim Perminov commissioned the machine and did the training and instruction at the customer’s site in Tanzania. He said, “After finding out the requirements of the PB Mining Company I was sure that the Rockster Duplex-System would be the best solution to receive the final grain quality they need with the lowest costs possible. The uniformity of the ore mass is very important for them. As the Galena rock has a very high abrasiveness, it requires a primary crushing on the jaw crusher to reduce the wear of blow bars when working on a rotary crusher.”

The PB Mining Company’s 2-in-1 crushing plant has proven successful in producing the necessary 0-5mm final grain. Using this equipment has done away with the need for purchasing, maintaining and transporting separate crushers. By using the jaw as primary crusher the firm saves wear and maintenance costs. The secondary impact crusher also delivers a good product shape and quality, allowing the firm to crush the Galena in the most ecological and cost efficient way.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Drilling efficiency
    February 20, 2012
    The latest developments in drilling rigs can help boost efficiency in quarry producion applications - Mike Woof reports
  • Drilling efficiency
    April 13, 2012
    The latest developments in drilling rigs can help boost efficiency in quarry producion applications - Mike Woof reports. Efficient drilling and blasting operations can have a huge impact on production costs in quarrying. Accuracy of hole direction and depth, as well as optimum blast design and explosives use, are critical for efficient blasting work. Ineffective blasting can result in high quantities of fines of low commercial value as well as over-sized material requiring secondary breaking. This impacts o
  • Major Necaxa-Tihuatlan Highway project for Mexico
    October 1, 2014
    A new highway in Mexico is connecting Necaxa with Tihuatlan and the project features challenging terrain - Mauro Nogarin reports In Mexico a landmark highway project is now close to completion, having set a number of records for Latin America.
  • Material feeder boosts paving job in South Africa
    December 14, 2017
    The use of a material feeder in a road paving job in South Africa has helped increase productivity and quality on the project. The contractor employed a Vögele MT 3000-2 Offset PowerFeeder to help optimise pavement quality, with the positive paving results having been confirmed by the University of Twente, Netherlands. This body monitored the project from a scientific perspective and its equipment included RoadScan, the innovative temperature-measurement system from Vögele. Using a material feeder can