Fluid-borne particle classification system and method of use

An iron ore particle classification system comprising:

• a classifier including:
• a vat defining an interior cavity, a feeder conduit upstream of the interior cavity, an overflow conduit in fluid communication between a top of the interior cavity and outside the vat, an underflow conduit downstream of the interior cavity, an underflow valve fluidly connected to a bottom of the interior cavity, the underflow valve controlled to be either in an open configuration in which the interior cavity is in fluid communication with the underflow conduit or in a closed configuration in which the interior cavity is sealed from the underflow conduit, and a controller operatively connected to probes arranged for measuring a differential pressure inside the interior cavity, the controller configured to calculate a relative density value based on the differential pressure measured by the probes, the controller operatively connected to the underflow valve and arranged to configure open the underflow valve into the open configuration upon the relative density attaining a threshold value so as to obtain an underflow having a desired iron ore grade;
• a feed preparation circuit upstream of the feeder conduit;
• a rejection circuit downstream of the overflow conduit, and
• a beneficiation circuit downstream of the underflow conduit configured to beneficiate the underflow of the classifier.