A Practical Guide to Pump Selection Across the Mining Process

Published on

14 October 2026

Choosing Mining Pumps: Where AODD and Peristaltic Perform Best, Stage by Stage

Why Positive Displacement Pumps Suit Mining Applications

Positive displacement pumps are well suited to mining applications because they deliver consistent, controllable flow even when slurry density, solids content, or backpressure fluctuate. While centrifugal slurry pumps remain common across many high-volume transfer duties, Air-Operated Double Diaphragm (AODD) and Peristaltic pumps offer distinct advantages where conditions are variable, abrasive, or chemically aggressive. The ability of these pumps to run dry, self-prime, handle abrasive solids, and operate reliably under varying pressures makes them a practical choice at many of the more demanding points in the mining circuit.

Isometric diagram of an 8-stage mining process, numbered 1 open-pit mining, 2 primary crusher, 3 screening station, 4 grinding mill, 5 thickener, 6 leaching and conditioning tanks, 7 filter press and 8 concentrate load-out

Mining is one of the most demanding environments for pumping equipment. Slurries shift in density, solids content changes hour by hour, and chemical conditions vary from neutral to highly corrosive. The choice between an AODD pump and a Peristaltic pump can make the difference between smooth operation and constant maintenance.

To help simplify pump selection across the full mining circuit, we have created the illustrated process diagram above. This visual highlights every stage, excavation, crushing, screening, milling, thickening, leaching, dewatering, and load-out, where pumps play a critical role.

1. Open-Pit Mining (Dewatering Pumps)

Media: Dirty water, runoff, mud, overburden wash

Challenges: Abrasion, solids, unpredictable conditions, temporary pump locations

Pump Role: Dewatering, sump cleaning, emergency removal

Best Pump: AODD AODD

For large-scale pit dewatering, particularly where high flow volumes are required continuously, submersible and centrifugal pumps are more commonly deployed. AODD pumps are the practical choice for sump cleaning, emergency removal, and temporary or repositionable duties where compressed air is available and electrical supply is not. Their ability to run dry, handle solids-laden runoff, and self-prime without setup time makes them well suited to the unpredictable, shifting nature of active excavation areas.

2. Primary Crusher (Coarse Size Reduction)

Media: Coarse slurry, rock fines, wash-down water

Challenges: Harsh abrasion, debris-filled sumps, inconsistent flow

Pump Role: Clearing crusher sumps and removing runoff

Best Pump: AODD AODD

At high-throughput operations, centrifugal slurry pumps are frequently used for crusher sump duty given their capacity for continuous, high-volume transfer. AODD pumps are preferred where sumps are smaller, access is restricted, flow is intermittent, or where the installation cannot justify a fixed centrifugal setup. Their ball-and-seat check valve design tolerates coarse debris and inconsistent flow without cavitation, and they can be repositioned or replaced without significant downtime.

3. Screening Station (Sizing and Separation)

Media: Spray water, fines, variable-density slurry

Challenges: Continuous abrasion, variable slurry density, surging flow

Pump Role: Sump transfer and fines slurry movement

Best Pump: AODD or Peristaltic AODD Peristaltic

AODD pumps suit light to medium density slurry (SG below roughly 1.3) where flow is intermittent or the pump may need to be repositioned. If the fines slurry is consistently high density, runs continuously, or requires pulseless flow to protect downstream equipment, a Peristaltic pump is the more appropriate selection.

4. Grinding Mill (SAG/Ball Mill Discharge)

Media: Thick, highly abrasive slurry

Challenges: Severe abrasion, high viscosity, continuous operation

Pump Role: Transferring ground ore to classification

Best Pump: Peristaltic Peristaltic

Centrifugal slurry pumps, used widely in SAG and ball mill circuits at large-scale operations, remain the most common technology for mill discharge transfer due to their high flow capacity. Where Peristaltic pumps are selected at this stage, the rationale is typically maintenance-driven: only the hose contacts the slurry, eliminating internal wear on impellers, casings, and seals. This makes them attractive where abrasive ore is causing unacceptable wear rates on centrifugal pump components, where smaller mill throughputs do not justify the infrastructure of a centrifugal installation, or where consistent metered flow is required through to classification.

5. Thickener (Solids-Liquid Separation)

Media: Thick, paste-like underflow; clarified overflow

Challenges: Rising discharge pressure, extreme viscosity, density swings

Pump Role: Underflow transfer to filtration or additional thickening

Best Pump: Peristaltic Peristaltic

Thickener underflow is one of the more established applications for Peristaltic pumps in mining operations, where paste-like underflow densities and rising discharge pressure can cause centrifugal alternatives to choke or lose prime. Progressive cavity pumps are also used at this stage and can handle similar viscosities, but require more careful management of solids content to avoid stator wear. The selection rationale for Peristaltic here is typically a combination of pressure tolerance, the ability to handle density swings without intervention, and lower sensitivity to grit and abrasives in the media.

6. Leaching / Conditioning Tanks (Chemical Treatment)

Media: Slurry mixed with acids, alkalis, and reagents

Challenges: Corrosion, abrasion, dosing accuracy, chemical compatibility

Pump Role: Slurry movement, reagent addition, pH adjustment

Best Pump: Peristaltic (slurry) + AODD (chemicals) Peristaltic AODD

For leach slurry transfer, Peristaltic pumps are selected where chemical corrosion and abrasion together would rapidly degrade the wetted components of alternative pump types, as the hose-only contact eliminates this combined attack. Progressive cavity pumps are also used in leach slurry service and can be appropriate where flow rates exceed Peristaltic capacity, though stator compatibility with the specific reagent chemistry must be verified. For reagent dosing specifically, acids, alkalis, and oxidants, AODD pumps constructed in PVDF or PTFE are a common and well-suited choice due to their chemical resistance, controllable flow at low volumes, and the ability to shut off safely without backflow.

7. Filter Press (Dewatering)

Media: High-density slurry, filtrate, filter cake

Challenges: Pressure spikes, heavy solids loading

Pump Role: Filter press feed and filtrate return

Best Pump: Peristaltic (feed) + AODD (filtrate) Peristaltic AODD

Filter press feed is one of the well-documented Peristaltic pump applications in mineral processing. As the filter press fills and internal pressure rises toward final squeeze pressure, a Peristaltic pump continues to deliver against the rising pressure, maintaining feed rate without operator intervention or bypass valving. This pressure-adaptive behaviour is the primary selection rationale over centrifugal pumps, which lose flow as backpressure rises. For filtrate return, AODD pumps are appropriate: filtrate is relatively clean, flow is intermittent as chambers drain, and the self-priming capability avoids the need for additional priming equipment.

8. Final Concentrate Storage (Load-Out)

Media: Dense mineral concentrate slurry, semi-dry solids

Challenges: High SG, variable viscosity

Pump Role: Transfer, recirculation, loading

Best Pump: Peristaltic or AODD Peristaltic AODD

At this stage, pump selection is typically driven by concentrate density and duty type. Progressive cavity pumps are also widely used for dense concentrate transfer given their tolerance of high SG slurries and smooth, pulseless output. Peristaltic pumps are preferred where abrasion or chemical content would cause unacceptable stator wear in a progressive cavity pump, or where hose replacement offers a lower total maintenance cost than stator and rotor replacement cycles. AODD pumps suit mobile loading operations, intermittent transfer duties, or installations where compressed air infrastructure is already available and electrical connection is impractical.

Summary Table – Best Mining Pumps by Stage

Stage	Media	Challenge	Best Pump
1	Dirty water, sludge	Portability	AODD
2	Crusher sump slurry	Abrasion	AODD
3	Screen deck slurry	Variable solids	AODD / Peristaltic
4	Mill discharge slurry	Abrasion and viscosity	Peristaltic
5	Thickener underflow	Paste-like viscosity	Peristaltic
6	Leach slurry, reagents	Chemical and abrasive	Peristaltic (slurry) / AODD (reagents)
7	Filter press feed, filtrate	Rising pressure	Peristaltic (feed) / AODD (filtrate)
8	Concentrate slurry	High SG	Peristaltic / AODD

Need help selecting the right pumps for your mining application? Our specialists are here to help.

Contact Enviroflex