Bell-Creek-Case-Study

This article reviews how Bell Creek Mine addressed a screening challenge using Polydeck screen media solutions.

This is Carmaky’s application review of a published Polydeck case, not a Carmaky-delivered project.

Challenge

Fibrous blasting residue was blinding the trash circuit screens at Bell Creek Gold Mine. The application therefore called for attention to both material passage and drainage, rather than treating screen selection as an aperture-size decision alone.

Solution

Polydeck reports a POLYDEX arrangement using slotted and VR apertures to address fibrous-material blinding and improve drainage.

Results

The reported Bell Creek outcomes were:

• 32% throughput increase.
• More than 2.5× drain rate improvement.
• The secondary trash screen was bypassed.

These results are specific to this project. They are not a prediction or guarantee for other screening circuits.

Key lessons for application review

For South African operations reviewing a similar duty, use this case as a starting point for an application assessment, not a ready-made specification.

• Open area and blinding: review usable open area under operating conditions, including how fibrous residue interacts with aperture geometry.
• Drainage: assess liquid passage alongside throughput and the duty of downstream equipment before considering circuit changes.
• Maintenance context: include cleaning access, inspection practices and observed wear when comparing screen media options.

Document the current feed, residue characteristics and operating constraints before selecting media or evaluating a trial. Any decision to bypass equipment requires a site-specific technical review.

Case attribution: Polydeck’s published Bell Creek case.

Read the original Polydeck case (opens in a new tab)

Related resources: Screen Media Guides · Screen media solutions