MINING & MILLING
Mining at American Perlite is conducted using conventional open pit practices. Overburden is removed by a bulldozer which exposes the perlite. The perlite is then ripped and loaded into dump trucks with a wheeled front-end loader. After loading, the dump truck drives to the side of the perlite dome where it dumps into a tipple. The tipple is simply a gravity feeding device to the mill. The flow of perlite is controlled by a vibrating plate, which feeds a primary jaw crusher. This is the start of the milling process.
The primary jaw crusher reduces the perlite rock to a manageable level and the product moves by conveyor belt to a secondary cone crusher. Here there is a recycle system in place to return any oversize material for re-crushing. Next, the crushed perlite is conveyed by a short belt to a long, rotary dryer. This dryer removes the surface moisture from the perlite and allows for proper screening. After the dryer, the perlite is conveyed to the top of the mill to start the screening process.
In 1998 the mill was renovated for increased efficiency and productivity. This was achieved primarily through a mill layout redesign, taking as much advantage as possible to move the perlite by gravity. The mill includes two separate circuits, running side by side over three levels of screening decks. Perlite flows over and through the screens, separating into the various grades sold. The screening levels are well above ground level, allowing the screened perlite to be diverted into several different storage silos and bunkers. Trucks can pull underneath these bunkers to load by gravity.
For more information you may contact us at:
American Perlite Company
11831 Vose Street
North Hollywood, CA 91605-5793
(818) 759-2255
or via e-mail at:
