Sink & Float plant
The Golden Era of the Gambatesa Nuova Plant
At the heart of the Gambatesa Nuova concession stood a crushing and enrichment plant serving the local manganese mines. Its origins date back to the 1930s, with an initial facility that was modernized in 1948 by Ferromin, which added administrative buildings, an infirmary, and a chemical laboratory for mineral analysis.
The “Sink & Float” Method
In the 1950s, Italsider built a modern plant on the existing structures. Here, the crushed ore was processed using the “Sink & Float” method, where manganese particles were immersed in a liquid of intermediate density between the mineral and the surrounding rock, allowing for the separation of the purest ore. This technique represented a significant advancement in mineral enrichment practices.
The End of Operations
The enrichment plant ceased activity in 1973, while the crushing plant continued operating until 2009, marking the end of decades of mining history. Today, the site tells the story of technological transformation in Ligurian mining and the strategic role of the Gambatesa Nuova manganese mines.
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