How do shaking tables separate fine tin minerals from lighter waste?

Shaking tables are an effective gravity separation method used to process fine-grained tin ores, typically ranging from 1 millimeter to 50 micrometers in size.1

The separation process functions through a combination of water flow and mechanical vibration:

• Stratification: As the ore pulp flows down an inclined, often grooved surface, the material is stratified into layers based on density, with heavier tin minerals settling toward the bottom.1
• Vibration: The table is vibrated back and forth at right angles to the direction of the water flow. This motion applies impact forces that further separate the particles, effectively moving the heavier tin minerals away from the lighter waste material.1

By utilizing these forces, shaking tables allow for the efficient concentration of tin minerals from lighter gangue, which is then removed as tailings.12