Cassiterite ore was originally exploited by barge mounted Caterpillar 245 hydraulic excavators, but Paranapanema tried a dredge about 10 years ago and found that it improved tin recovery. The slurry is ideal for the concentrator and contributes to improved recovery. The Pitinga dredges win ore from depths of up to 8m. Through the use of this type of equipment, their production has risen from 3000 tons per year eight years ago to 23,000 tons. Shore powered electric wheel dredge for tin mining to replace numerous pieces of dryland equipment and increase the separation efficiency at the processing plant.
Handles clay very well.