Froth flotation stands as one of the greatest innovations in mining and at the forefront of its modern evolution is the Jameson Cell: one of the most efficient, flexible, and high-performing flotation technologies in the world.
The Jameson Cell was developed in 1985 when Mount Isa Mines asked Professor Graeme Jameson to improve flotation performance in their zinc circuit. His breakthrough—the downcomer—showed that effective particle recovery occurred in an intense mixing zone, leading to the creation of a compact, high-efficiency flotation cell.
Over the next 40 years, the Jameson Cell underwent continuous improvement. Key milestones included the introduction of the External Recycle Mechanism (ERM) in the 1990s, which fundamentally improved the process stability.
In 2007, Glencore Technology, in conjunction with Professor Graeme Jameson, conducted a series of internal trade-offs between the Jameson Cell and the Concorde Cell, with the hope of further improving fine bubble recovery. The evaluation revealed that the Concorde Cell delivered lower performance, and when coupled with operational complexity, had higher capital and operating costs. The Concorde Cell was not pursued and returned to Professor Jameson. This decision reaffirmed Glencore Technology’s commitment to the Jameson Cell for decades to come. As the capacity of Jameson Cells has increased to around 4000 tph, a recent lower-profile configuration was adopted, which doesn’t compromise performance or functionality, but significantly reduces installation costs.
Now with over 500 installations across 30 countries, the Jameson Cell continues to deliver unmatched performance and reliability.
Unlike conventional cells, the Jameson Cell generates fine bubbles consistently without the need for external equipment blowers or spargers. This ensures optimal particle-bubble contact and recovery with a lower capital cost. Its intense mixing and rapid flotation occur without mechanical agitation, delivering superior energy efficiency and significantly lower operating costs.
Adam Price, Glencore Technology’s Manager of Jameson Cell Technology, highlights the key advantages driving its global success.
“The Jameson Cell consistently delivers improved performance whilst providing huge savings on both OPEX and CAPEX. There’s a reason they’re so widespread.”
Compact yet powerful, the Jameson Cell achieves high throughput in a remarkably small footprint, while froth washing maximizes concentrate grade in a single flotation stage.
“The Jameson Cell punches well above its weight. High throughput, great grades, and simple to run,” Price adds. “No moving parts, no fuss, just reliable performance no matter the conditions. It’s a smarter investment from day one.”
This has kept the Jameson Cell firmly at the top, outperforming newer technologies and reinforcing its position as the industry’s most effective flotation solution.
While newer technologies emerge as alternative options, they remain far less proven, with very few full-scale installations compared to the Jameson Cell’s 500 and counting.
A recent independent study by Ausenco confirmed that the Jameson Concentrator- a complete flotation circuit built entirely with Jameson Cells – was a more cost-effective and sustainable flowsheet compared to tank cell flotation circuits. The Jameson Concentrator achieved a 24% lower installed capital cost compared to tank cells, driven by its compact footprint and significantly reduced structural requirements. Costs were nearly half, with power consumption and consumables drastically reduced due to the Jameson Cell’s simplified, no-moving-parts design.
From an environmental standpoint, the Jameson Cell also leads by example. The study found that the Jameson Concentrator produces 40% fewer operational carbon emissions and uses half the concrete and one-third the steel during construction, making it the clear ESG front-runner. Over a 15-year mine life, the cumulative emissions from a Jameson Cell plant are significantly lower than those of a conventional setup, helping operations meet sustainability targets without compromising performance.
These advantages are further amplified by the Jameson Cell’s ongoing evolution and exciting future, a point highlighted by Glencore Technology Director of Growth & Solutions, Glenn Stieper:
“The Jameson Cell is in a unique phase – it has 40 years of refinement behind it, yet we’re still uncovering its full potential across flowsheets and commodities. Recently, we’ve seen outstanding results in PGMs, reverse silica in iron ore, and as a full-circuit solution with the Jameson Concentrator. It’s personally rewarding to know we’re driving the industry to innovate, pushing for lower energy, lower cost, and higher performance solutions that help tackle the global challenges mining companies face today.”
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