Mineral Processing by Bioheapleaching at The Talvivaara...

Mineral Processing by Bioheapleaching at The Talvivaara Nickel Mine in Sotkamo, Finland

Jukka PitkäjärviGeneral ManagerTalvivaara Exploration Ltd

DISCLAIMERThe following information contains, or may be deemed to contain, “forward-looking statements”The following information contains, or may be deemed to contain, forward looking statements (as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements relate to future events that involve known and unknown risks and other uncertainties. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. All forward-looking a d depe d o c cu sta ces t at ay o ay ot occu t e utu e o a d oo gstatements made in this presentation based on information presently available and Talvivaara Mining Company Plc. assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Nothing in this presentation constitutes investment advice and this presentation shall notNothing in this presentation constitutes investment advice and this presentation shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or otherwise to engage in any investment activity.

• Talvivaara Mining Company established in 2003Talvivaara Mining Company established in 2003

• Listed on London Stock Exchange Main Market since June 2007. Listed on Nasdaq OMX Helsinki since May 2009.

• Targeted full scale production from 2012

Sotkamo

TALVIVAARA

– Nickel 50,000 tonnes p.a.

– Zinc 90,000 tonnes p.a.

Copper 15 000 p a

OsloStockholm

Helsinki

– Copper 15,000 p.a.

– Cobalt 1,800 tonnes p.a.

LondonHamburg

Copenhagen

• Estimated mine life over 40 years Berlin

A world-class assetTalvivaara mineral resources

• One of the largest known sulphide nickel deposits in Europe

Nickel cut-off 0.07%

Category Mt Nickel%

Talvivaara mineral resources

deposits in Europe• Favourable waste-to-ore ratio at 1:1• Commercially significant amounts of copper,

cobalt and zinc

Measured 364 0.23 Indicated 278 0.22 Subtotal 642 0 23cobalt and zinc

• Uranium and manganese extraction being evaluated

Subtotal 642 0.23 Inferred 362 0.20 Total 1,004 0.22

3km untested groundKuusilampi Kolmisoppi

??

??

??

??

First metal production achieved on time – ramp-up continues

Secondary Heap

Kolmisoppi open pit

Waste Dump Environmental permit; earthworksEnvironmental permit; earthworks

1.4.2007

2007 2008

Secondary HeapStage 2Leveling of ore

Mining

1.11.2007

1 7 2008

1.4.2008

Secondary HeapStage 1

Kuusilampi open pit

Waste Dump Metals

RecoveryGypsum

Pond

Materials handling

Metals recovery

1.7.2008

1.10.2008

W k d h d lPrimary Heap Waste Dump

Work commenced on schedule

Environment, Health and Safety – a priority for Talvivaara

Environment• Environmental processes being prepared for ISO p g p p

14001 certification; audit of environmental system targeted for Q4 2010

Personnel• Current number of personnel 340

• Training programmes and recruiting continuing

SafetyTalvivaara personnel 2003-2010e

450Safety• Launch of successful Work Group Safety

Challenge in February 2009250

300

350

400

450

of p

erso

nnel

• 6 minor LTI’s recorded in 2009

• 11 LTIs/million man hours safety rating0

50

100

150

200

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Num

ber o

January 2010

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Recent highlights

• Zinc streaming agreement with Nyrstar NV; USD 335m purchase price received• Early repayment in full of USD 320m Project Term Loan Facility• Closing of all nickel zinc and foreign exchange risk hedging positions with EUR 45mClosing of all nickel, zinc and foreign exchange risk hedging positions with EUR 45m

net proceeds• Plans to recover uranium as a by-product of leaching process announced;

350 tpa estimated productionp p• Ramp-up progressing; bioheapleaching performing above budgeted levels

Production targets for 2010

• Mining– Ore 24 mt

– Waste 16 mt

– Stripping ratio 0.67Annualised production level of nickel in 2010(t)

40000

50000

2nd production2nd hydrogenplant

• Metals recovery– Nickel: approx. 30,000 t 20000

30000

40000 2nd productionline at metals plant

plant

– Zinc: approx. 50,000 t

– Insignificant amounts of copper and cobalt 0

10000

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecJan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

A technically simple and safe uranium extraction process

TertiaryCrushingCu Sulphide

Metals RecoveryCrushing














Metals RecoveryCrushing• Solvent extraction unit to be added to Talvivaara’s

metals recovery plant

ng

Zn Sulphide Precipitation

Cu Sulphide Precipitation Copper

Sulphide

ZincSulphide

PLS

H2S

H2S

ng



Sulphide

ZincSulphide

PLS

H2S

H2S

ng



Sulphide

ZincSulphide

PLS

H2S

H2S

ng



Sulphide

ZincSulphide

PLS

H2S

H2S

ng



Sulphide

ZincSulphide

PLS

H2S

H2S

ng



Sulphide

ZincSulphide

PLS

H2S

H2S

ng



Sulphide

ZincSulphide

PLS

H2S

H2S

ng



Sulphide

ZincSulphide

PLS

H2S

H2S

• Planned production approx. 350 tpa• Estimated capital expenditure approx. EUR 30m• Production costs estimated at approx. EUR 2m pa

ScreenNi Co Sulphide Precipitation

Limestone

Pre Neutralisation

GypsumPrecipitate

Yellow cake

Uranium Extraction


Limestone

Pre Neutralisation

GypsumPrecipitate

Yellow cake

Uranium Extraction


Limestone

Pre Neutralisation

GypsumPrecipitate

Yellow cake

Uranium Extraction


Limestone

Pre Neutralisation

GypsumPrecipitate

Yellow cake

Uranium Extraction


Limestone

Pre Neutralisation

GypsumPrecipitate

Yellow cake

Uranium Extraction


Limestone

Pre Neutralisation

GypsumPrecipitate

Yellow cake

Uranium Extraction


Limestone

Pre Neutralisation

GypsumPrecipitate

Yellow cake

Uranium Extraction


Limestone

Pre Neutralisation

GypsumPrecipitate

Yellow cake

Uranium Extraction• Permit applications delivered to authorities

Price of yellow cake 2005-2010 (USD/lb)

PrecipitationH2S

a H2SO4

Limestone

Lime

IronPrecipitation

T t l

O2

NickelCobaltSulphide

PrecipitationH2S

a H2SO4

Limestone

Lime

IronPrecipitation

T t l

O2


PrecipitationH2S

a H2SO4

Limestone

Lime

IronPrecipitation

T t l

O2


PrecipitationH2S

a H2SO4

Limestone

Lime

IronPrecipitation

T t l

O2


PrecipitationH2S

a H2SO4

Limestone

Lime

IronPrecipitation

T t l

O2


PrecipitationH2S

a H2SO4

Limestone

Lime

IronPrecipitation

T t l

O2


PrecipitationH2S

a H2SO4

Limestone

Lime

IronPrecipitation

T t l

O2


PrecipitationH2S

a H2SO4

Limestone

Lime

IronPrecipitation

T t l

O2


80

100

120

140

SD/lb

e Pond

TotalPrecipitation

Gypsum Pond

Effluent

e Pond

TotalPrecipitation

Gypsum Pond

Effluent

PLS Pond

e Pond

TotalPrecipitation

Gypsum Pond

Effluent

e Pond

TotalPrecipitation

Gypsum Pond

Effluent

PLS Pond

e Pond

TotalPrecipitation

Gypsum Pond

Effluent

e Pond

TotalPrecipitation

Gypsum Pond

Effluent

PLS Pond

e Pond

TotalPrecipitation

Gypsum Pond

Effluent

e Pond

TotalPrecipitation

Gypsum Pond

Effluent

PLS Pond

0

20

40

60

5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 0

US

Gypsum PondGypsum PondPLS Pond Gypsum PondGypsum PondPLS Pond Gypsum PondGypsum PondPLS Pond Gypsum PondGypsum PondPLS Pond

31/01

/2005

31/07

/2005

31/01

/2006

31/07

/2006

31/01

/2007

31/07

/2007

31/01

/2008

31/07

/2008

31/01

/2009

31/07

/2009

31/01

/2010

Deposit GeologyDeposit Geology

• One of the largest known sulphide nickel deposits in Europe (total mineral resources >1000 Mt @ 0.22% Ni)@ )

• Proterozoic metamorphosed and folded black schist

• Area explored since the 1970’s– Detailed exploration by GSF 1977-1983– Outokumpu exploration 1989-1992

W k b T l i i 2004– Work by Talvivaara since 2004– Significant exploration potential

(Loukola-Ruskeeniemi and Heino, 1996)

M d l Mi l C iti (Wt%)Modal Mineral Composition (Wt%)

A i

Oxides3 %

Others (?)5 %

Apatite1 % Garnet (sp)

1 %

Sulphides (tot)31 %

Feldspars (Pl)

Tremolite4 %

Graphite

(Pl)12 %

Quartz17 %Micas (Bt)

Graphite12 %

( )14 %

Ahonen, 2006

Sulphide Minerals Distribution of NiPentlandite

Pyrite

Alabandite6 %

Pentlandite0 % Altered

pentlandite1 %

Sphalerite3 %

Chalcopyrite2 %

Pentlandite7 %

Pyrrhotite +y25 %

Oxidized po14 %

2 % Pyrrhotite + oxidized po

33 %

Altered Pyrite1 %

Pyrrhotite49 %

pentlandite59 %

Ahonen, 2006

C ti f th K il i D itCross-section of the Kuusilampi Deposit

Kuusilampi and Kolmisoppi - long section looking West

3km untested ground

Kuusilampi Kolmisoppi

??

??

??

??

K il i d K l i i l ti l ki W tKuusilampi and Kolmisoppi - long section looking WestNew 2009 drilling profiles

K l i i fil 15180 2009 d illh lKolmisoppi profile 15180 – new 2009 drillholes

2008 resource outline

New resource outline

Process flow sheet

Kuusilampi Open Pit March 2009

Fine crushing

Ore stockpile

Fine crushing

Agglomeration

Description of Bioheapleaching +20°C

• Naturally occurring process, endemic bacteria

• Bacteria catalyse leaching of metals from ore to solution

• Substantially lower capex and opex than in traditional smelting and refining processes

-20°C

• Cleaner and more environmentally friendly process compared to smelting

Bioheapleaching

• Key process parameters include particle size, aeration, irrigation and acid consumption

• Process run in two stagesg

– Primary leaching for 15-18 months; expected nickel recovery approx. 80%

– Secondary leaching for additional 3.5 years; total expected nickel recovery >90%

Bioheapleaching in operationAerationHeap

Irrigation Pregnant Leach Solution

A) Chemicalleaching

TimeTimeA) Chemicalleaching

TimeTime

Unreacted mineral

leaching

Unreacted mineral

leaching

Unreacted mineral

Porous sulfur product

Unreacted mineral

Porous sulfur product

B) Microbiologicalleaching

Time TimeB) Microbiologicalleaching

Time Time

Attached microorganismsremove sulfurAttached microorganismsremove sulfur

Particle sizepHb t 2 d 2 5

Temperature

remove sulfurremove sulfur

• P80 < 8 mm• between 2 and 2.5• compromise between leaching yield

and cost of pH control

• between 20 and 90 ˚C

Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans

10 000 000 000 bacteria10,000,000,000 bacteria in a teaspoon of

solution

Pilot Heap June 2009Pilot Heap June 2009

Metal Recoveries in the Pilot Heap

14

16

80

90

100Nickel

Cobalt

Nickel and zinc Cobalt and copper

10

12

vere

d60

70

80

vere

d

Zinc

Cobalt

4

6

8

% re

cov

30

40

50

% r

ecov

0

2

0 100 200 300 400 5000

10

20

0 100 200 300 400 500

Copper

0 100 200 300 400 500

Days

0 100 200 300 400 500

Days

Bioheapleaching – secondary leaching• Secondary heap areas to be developed during 2010-2011 y p p g

Length 1 500 m

YEAR 2010

YEAR 2011

H2S

Copper Sulphide

Zinc SulphideOre Feed H2SO4 PLS

Gypsum PrecipitateAl(OH)2 Precipitate

AIR

NaOH

Nickel & Cobalt Sulphide

Limestone

Oxygen PlantGypsum Fe Precipitate

EffluentLime

Metals Recovery Process

• Large multimetal deposit• Exotermic process in subarctic conditionsp• Particle size, pH control, temperature control

Thank you!Thank you!

www.talvivaara.com

Mineral Processing by Bioheapleaching at The Talvivaara...

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