Abstract: There are many mineral processing plants in China that have no capability to recycle the tailings. They make no detailed estimation of the distribution of the material and metal loss in the beneficiation process and only reckon the tailing quantity from the measured valuable product quantity. The paper describes the way to analyze the output level and loss of the material quantity and contained metal in the production process by deducing the tailings and loss amount according to the easy-measurable parts in the material input and output process, such as the input material quantity and amount, the product quantity and amount and the tailing grade. The recommended method can scientifically measure and calculate the change in the material quantity and determine the process technological level and the loss rationality so as to facilitate a more effective monitoring on the beneficiation technology and its organized execution.

Key words: Material quantity, Tailings, Production process