The fatal accident involving six students from Northeastern University who fell while visiting a mine has seen new developments. The state-owned enterprise China National Gold has responded by saying that falling into a flotation cell is unlikely to cause mechanical injuries, the slurry is non-toxic, and it is not high temperature.
On Wednesday morning (July 23), six Northeastern University students tragically died after the grate plate collapsed, causing them to fall into the flotation cell while visiting the flotation process at the Unugutushan Copper-Molybdenum Mine Concentrator of China National Gold Group Inner Mongolia Mining Co., Ltd., for study and observation. One teacher was also injured.
Pengpai News reported on Saturday (July 26) that materials obtained from officials show Wang Rui, Director of the Concentrator Department at China National Gold Group Inner Mongolia Mining Co., Ltd., addressed the three main issues at the center of public attention.
First, after the incident, some internet users questioned whether high-temperature rotating agitator blades in the flotation cell may have struck the students who fell in. Wang Rui responded that the flotation machine only has an impeller rotating at the bottom to stir the slurry, but there is a cover plate above the impeller, and the area is surrounded by fixed parts, so it is unlikely to cause mechanical injury.
Next, Wang Rui stated that the main minerals in the Wushan copper-molybdenum ore are pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite, molybdenite, quartz, and other minerals. Multiple research institutions have repeatedly tested the ore and found no toxic substances.
The slurry's pH value is maintained around 9, and all reagent product manuals indicate that they are safe and green chemicals.
Finally, regarding questions as to whether the slurry into which the students fell was high-temperature, Wang Rui said that Wushan Concentrator uses normal temperature flotation for copper-molybdenum mixed flotation, with no heating equipment. Previous measurements show the slurry temperature is between 23.2 and 31.4°C. Based on past direct or gloved indirect contact with the slurry, the perceived temperature is under 36°C, with no obvious sense of blistering heat.
The accident, in which six university students lost their lives during a practical course without warning, has shocked Chinese society. The official preliminary report classified the cause of death as "drowning," which drew criticism for being too understated and failing to reflect the actual dangers at the scene or provide an account of what truly happened.
On Wednesday morning (July 23), six Northeastern University students tragically died after the grate plate collapsed, causing them to fall into the flotation cell while visiting the flotation process at the Unugutushan Copper-Molybdenum Mine Concentrator of China National Gold Group Inner Mongolia Mining Co., Ltd., for study and observation. One teacher was also injured.
Pengpai News reported on Saturday (July 26) that materials obtained from officials show Wang Rui, Director of the Concentrator Department at China National Gold Group Inner Mongolia Mining Co., Ltd., addressed the three main issues at the center of public attention.
First, after the incident, some internet users questioned whether high-temperature rotating agitator blades in the flotation cell may have struck the students who fell in. Wang Rui responded that the flotation machine only has an impeller rotating at the bottom to stir the slurry, but there is a cover plate above the impeller, and the area is surrounded by fixed parts, so it is unlikely to cause mechanical injury.
Next, Wang Rui stated that the main minerals in the Wushan copper-molybdenum ore are pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite, molybdenite, quartz, and other minerals. Multiple research institutions have repeatedly tested the ore and found no toxic substances.
The slurry's pH value is maintained around 9, and all reagent product manuals indicate that they are safe and green chemicals.
Finally, regarding questions as to whether the slurry into which the students fell was high-temperature, Wang Rui said that Wushan Concentrator uses normal temperature flotation for copper-molybdenum mixed flotation, with no heating equipment. Previous measurements show the slurry temperature is between 23.2 and 31.4°C. Based on past direct or gloved indirect contact with the slurry, the perceived temperature is under 36°C, with no obvious sense of blistering heat.
The accident, in which six university students lost their lives during a practical course without warning, has shocked Chinese society. The official preliminary report classified the cause of death as "drowning," which drew criticism for being too understated and failing to reflect the actual dangers at the scene or provide an account of what truly happened.