Advanced Mineral Processing For Complex Orebodies Burgess.pdf · Advanced Mineral Processing For...
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Integrated Mining Services Advanced Mineral Processing For Complex Orebodies December 2016
Transcript of Advanced Mineral Processing For Complex Orebodies Burgess.pdf · Advanced Mineral Processing For...
Integrated Mining Services
Advanced Mineral ProcessingFor Complex Orebodies
December 2016
Integrated Mining Services
About Us
• AustMin is an integrated project service provider in management of exploration, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and operation of mining and mineral processing projects.
• Agreements with some of the most reputable mining, and process engineering companies in Australia.
• AustMIN personnel have a track record in successful project management and delivery.
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Our Associates – Engineering Firms
Together with our associate companies we provide a full range of services from scoping studies to commissioning and operations.
AMC Consultants
Minnovo
Pybar
Austmin partners with clients through early involvement and the application of our resource engineering capability, leveraging the knowledge gained from our experience to deliver the most commercially effective solutions.
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Introduction
• The transition from a scoping study to the final feasibility study is often a complex and challenging journey requiring iterative improvement processes to enable the development of an optimum process plant design that is cost effective.
• This staged approach is required to minimise the associated risks and also to allow a smooth transition to project funding.
• Ore mineralogy, liberation size, deleterious elements, feed grade variability, project location and proximity to infrastructure all contribute to the complexity of optimising a process plant flowsheet.
• A case study on a complex IOCG (Iron Ore, Copper, Gold) orebody is discussed in this presentation where we employed a number of advanced techniques including seawater flotation, two staged ultrafine grinding and mineral separation based on real time flotation kinetics and final concentrate washing.
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Staged Approach to Project Realisation
• Iterative progression from initial ore discovery - examining various mining and processing techniques (options analysis) with each step reducing the projects inherent risks.
• A feasibility-level study objectives:• Remove all significant uncertainties (de-risk the project).
• Demonstrate that project can be constructed and operated both technically & economically.
• Provide the underlying detailed design and basis of construction and operation and to provide quantifiable supporting information that is readily accessible.
• Most importantly serves as the basis for raising finance for the project.
Study Type AccuracyScoping Study ± 40%Pre-Feasibility ± 25%Feasibility ± 15%
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Advanced Processing Techniques Case Study – IOCG Orebody
Hillside Copper
Task:
• 0.63%Cu, 0.13g/t Au, 14%Fe, 57ppm U
• Manage, and
• Implement a processing strategy
Our team has directly been involved in the treatment of copper and gold orebodies using seawater.
Successful Test of 3D Seismic ‐Australia
Accurately located vertical copper bearing structures in 3 ‐ dimensions
Implications;
Improved drill targeting for exploration of sulphides (Cu, Zn and Pb)
Lower cost & reduction in false positives
Quicker & cheaper method of making a discovery
AustMIN personnel have successfully tested 3D seismic on the Hillside copper orebody in Australia
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Beneficiation Using SeawaterMetallurgy in saline solutions
Typical issues for consideration in saline/seawater processes:
• Pre‐treatment / desalination prior to use.
• Impact on metallurgical processing.
• Impact of other elements on concentrate quality & penalties.
• pH control.
• Equipment and material maintenance.
Issues addressed as follows:• Desalination unnecessary – environmental aspects of brine disposal, & excessive costs due to
volume treated.
• No impact to flotation performances when using seawater has been detected from the extensive testwork done to date.
• Buffering effect of seawater mitigated by fixed lime addition to regrind‐replaced with SMBS.
• Concentrate Cl content below penalty level of 500ppm – washing filter cake with low‐Cl water.
• Adequate selection of materials and paints.
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Benefication Using Seawater
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Existing Plants Using SeawaterWell‐established hydrometallurgical process route.
Existing concentrator operations using saline solutions.
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Benefication Using Seawater
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Feasibility of fine grinding & Effect on Conc. Grade
Need to Grind Finer
The need to regrind for Hillside ore has been shown continually throughout the test program ‐Copper Grade and Recovery as a Function of Regrind Size.
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Process Design –Optimising the Flowsheet
Copper rougher concentrate grind P80 14µ, 3 x Isa Mills for regrind – 9MW.
Copper Concentrate 24%Cu @ 93% Recovery & 100ppm U.
Issues with conc. moisture TML 14.8% filter 17% ‐ requires dryer.
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Optimising the regrind & cleaner circuit By using QSEM and assays established a bimodal relationship between uranium and
chalcopyrite liberation.
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Process Design –Optimising the Flowsheet
Copper rougher concentrate grind P80 26µ,1 IsaMill for regrind – 3MW, (28% Cu @ 70% Cu Recovery & 37 ppmU).
Regrind rougher scav conc. P80 14µ,1 smaller IsaMill for regrind – 1.5MW ,(26% Cu @ 22% Cu Recovery & 52 ppmU).
Combined Conc. 27% Cu @ 92% Cu & 41ppmU).
No issues with conc. moisture TML 10.8% filter 9.5% ‐ requires no dryer.
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Optimising the regrind & cleaner circuit Minimising the uranium in final copper concentrate was achieved by utilising the two stage
regrind, two stage column flotation and uranium kinetics.
Probe developed to analyse uranium for cleaner & recleaner stage cut‐off in real time.
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Optimising the Iron recovery circuitSimilar optimisation around hematite circuit silica removal circuit by
conventional silicate flotation and the use of a Reflux classifier.
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Integrated Project ProviderDiscovery to Operations
General Enquiries to:
Phone: +61 (03) 8692 0092Email: [email protected]
John Burgess ‐ Senior Principal/DirectorPhone: +61 (03) 8692 0092Email: [email protected]
