The invention concerns a belt filter apparatus (10) comprising a first belt filter section (24) on which a mixture of fine material and a liquid can be placed hydraulically to create partially dry fine material and a second belt filter section (26) on which the partially dry fine material can be placed in order to undergo a second drying cycle. The belt filer apparatus also includes means for mechanically placing (36) the partially dry fine material from the first belt filter section onto the second belt filter section as well as a liquid collection arrangement (29) for providing fluid communication between the first and second belt filter sections and a vacuum. In use the vacuum dries the fine material by drawing liquid through the permeable fabric of the first and second belt filter sections and into the liquid collection arrangement. In preferred embodiments of the invention the belt filter apparatus includes an agitator formation (40) for increasing the permeability of the fine material thereby to enhance the ability of the liquid to be released from the fine material and be collected by the liquid collection arrangement.
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