Gold Leaching Tank: Agitation Tank Sizes and Specifications

A gold leaching tank, also called an agitation tank, is a cylindrical steel tank with a motor-driven agitator that keeps ore slurry suspended while cyanide dissolves the gold. Tanks are installed in series of five to eight to form a CIL or CIP train, each fitted with an interstage screen that holds activated carbon in place. Small Tanzanian plants typically use tanks of about 10 to 200 cubic metres each, with agitators of roughly 3 to 30 kW and air sparging to keep dissolved oxygen up.

Gold Processing & Recovery·7 min read·Updated 2026-09-13
Row of agitated gold leaching tanks at a CIL plant

Gold Leaching Tank (Agitation Tank) Specifications

The figures below describe typical industry specifications for this class of equipment rather than a single fixed model. Use them to scope a requirement, then confirm exact figures against the supplied unit before purchase.

Typical specification range for the Gold Leaching Tank (Agitation Tank)
SpecificationTypical value
Working volume per tank10–200 m³ for small plants
Tank diameter × heightAbout 3×3.5 m to 7×7.5 m
Tanks per train5–8 in series
Agitator power3–30 kW, per tank size and slurry density
ImpellerHydrofoil or pitched blade, rubber lined or hardened
Slurry density40–50% solids by mass
ConstructionCarbon steel, epoxy or rubber lined; bolted or welded
Interstage screenMechanical swept or airlift, 0.6–0.8 mm aperture
AerationAir or oxygen sparged, 6–10 ppm dissolved oxygen
Flow between tanksGravity overflow via launders, 200–400 mm step per tank
Power supply400 V 3-phase 50 Hz
TransportBolted panel tanks ship flat in containers

What a Gold Leaching Tank (Agitation Tank) Is Used For

  • Carbon-in-leach and carbon-in-pulp gold circuits
  • Regrinding and leaching old amalgamation tailings
  • Upgrading a vat leach site to agitated leaching
  • Cyanide detoxification tanks at the end of the circuit

Maintenance Schedule

Most premature failures in this equipment class trace back to a missed routine check rather than a design fault. The intervals below are a practical starting schedule; adjust them to your duty cycle and the manufacturer manual.

Recommended maintenance intervals
IntervalTask
Every shiftConfirm every agitator is running and slurry is fully suspended; check interstage screens are flowing and not overflowing carbon.
WeeklyClean or rotate interstage screens; check gearbox oil and agitator noise and vibration; inspect launders for sanding.
MonthlyInspect impeller wear and shaft alignment; check lining at the slurry line and tank bottom where accessible.
QuarterlyInspect air sparging lines and valves; survey tank walls and floor for corrosion or leaks.
AnnuallyDrain and inspect internals; repair lining and replace impellers and screen mesh as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size leaching tank do I need?

Tank volume comes from your daily tonnage, slurry density and the residence time your ore needs, then split across the number of tanks. As an illustration, a 50 tonne per day plant at 45% solids and 24 hours residence needs roughly 90–100 m³ of total working volume, for example six tanks of about 17–20 m³. Leach test work on your ore sets the residence time.

What happens if the agitator stops?

The solids settle to the tank floor within minutes and can pack hard enough that the agitator cannot restart under load. Plants need standby power or a restart procedure, and tanks should not sit settled for long. This is one reason generator sizing matters on off-grid sites.

Should tanks be bolted or welded?

For remote Tanzanian sites, bolted panel tanks are often the better choice because they ship flat in containers and are assembled on site. Welded tanks need fabrication on site or oversized road transport. Both work if the lining and sealing are done properly.

Can I use leaching tanks with an existing vat leach site?

Yes. Operators commonly add a regrind mill and a short tank train to treat material that vats leach poorly. The fine gold locked in particles only dissolves after grinding, which is why agitated leaching often recovers gold that vats leave behind.

Supply and Delivery Across Tanzania

Bart Mining supplies gold leaching tank (agitation tank) and related equipment to mining operations throughout Tanzania, with primary coverage of the Lake Victoria Goldfields (Mwanza, Kahama, Geita, Shinyanga and Bukombe), alongside the Lupa Goldfields around Chunya and Mbeya, and delivery nationwide from Dar es Salaam.

MwanzaKahamaGeitaShinyangaBukombeNyangʼhwaleTaboraDodomaArushaMbeyaChunyaSongweDar es SalaamMorogoroMtwaraKigoma

Commonly supplied to: Chunya, Mpanda.

Specification note. The values on this page are industry-standard ranges for the equipment category, published so buyers can scope requirements before enquiring. They are not a quotation and do not describe a specific stocked model. Contact us with your duty, site conditions and power supply for a specification and quotation against your actual requirement.

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