Tabling is a mineral processing method, in which an inclined and longitudinally grooved shaking table is used for separation. Tabling is based on the specific gravity of different minerals. The longitudinal back-and-forth shaking motion separates the mineral particles into concentrate, tailings and intermediate product.
Tabling is best suited for medium coarse grains (max. 6–8 mm) and has been used especially in gold refining, e.g. in Pahtavaara. At the Outokumpu mine, the sulfur in the sulfur concentrate separated by tabling was sold to pulp and sulfuric acid plants. The finest material was fed into a mill where it was ground for the flotation of copper ores.