MineSenseTM Technologies has completed the evaluation tool PreCalculatOre in conjunction with XPS (Xstrata Process Support) and the Centre of Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI). This is a combined process and analytical cost modeling tool that can assess the potential economic benefits of applying ore pre-concentration techniques to existing or new mines.
CEMI contracted MineSense Technologies and XPS to develop an executable software program enabling users to evaluate the potential process economic benefits to be gained by the implementation of pre-concentration techniques within the hard rock metal mining, mineral processing, smelting and refining system. Terms of reference:
- Validity: Open pit or underground copper, nickel, gold and molybdenum sulphide mines
- Operations: Mining: mine, fill, muck, underground haul, hoisting, ROM waste, ROM haul; milling operations: pre-concentration, pre-concentration waste, mill haul, grinding, flotation, flotation tailings, dewatering; and smelting/refining operations: roasting, leaching, leaching tailings, smelter haul, smelting, slag, and refining
- Tonnage: 1,000 t/d – 100,000 t/d
- Grades: 0.5 – 5% Ni, 0.5 – 5% Cu, 1-30 g/t Au, 0.01 – 1% Mo
- Situations: urban/rural, remote and arctic/alpine operations.
PreCalculatOre is based on tightly integrated financial and process unit operations models used to evaluate economic impacts of pre-concentration on the mine-mill-smelting system. Pre-concentration impacts are evaluated by introducing a degree of waste rejection through an ore pre-concentration process inserted on surface between the mine and the mill.
The model allows flexibility for the user to independently adjust the base costs for the operations therein through abstraction of mining and milling costs. The cost of mining operations (mine, fill, muck, underground haul, hoisting, ROM waste, and ROM haul) and the milling operations (pre-concentration, pre-concentration waste, mill haul, grinding, flotation, flotation tailings, dewatering, roasting, leaching, leaching tailings, smelter haul, smelting, slag, and refining) can each have a percentage adjustment made to their base operating costs and capital costs.
Through this provision of a coarse adjustment to the groups of operations for mining and milling it is possible for PreCalculatOre to give the user some flexibility over capital and operating expenses without compromising the essential functionality of the program.
The result of this CEMI-sponsored MineSense/XPS collaboration is a powerful high level evaluation tool that can provide real time results of applying ore pre-concentration techniques to existing mine operations demonstrating impacts including changes in operating costs, ore extraction and overall metal recoveries. .
“We are excited to introduce PreCalculatOre to the mining industry,” says Dr. Andrew Bamber, CEO and founder of MineSense. “Through the collaborative development of tools like PreCalculatOre we can raise awareness and disseminate knowledge about the potential benefits to mines, mills and smelters of adopting the MineSense pre-concentration solution.” Arthur Barnes, Consulting Metallurgist for XPS, and co-developer of the process model adds, “We are enthusiastic about PreCalculatOre and the opportunities it can provide for our clients globally. Mining operations are continually looking for opportunities to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and improve overall ore recovery and thus enhance sustainability.”
Damien Duff, R&D Program Director at CEMI says, “At CEMI, our goal is to support research and development projects that produce a meaningful outcome and demonstrate Canada’s strength in mining innovation. Supporting innovation supports our members, our community and the global mining industry overall.”
The generic model, the Northern Ontario-specific model (Sudbury Edition) and a demonstration video on PreCalculatOre are available for download at CEMI’s website. Sudbury Edition’s financial model is adjusted to reflect the regional expectations for the operating and capital costs involved for mining in eastern Canada. www.miningexcellence.ca/knowledge/reports/ or at http://www.minesense.com/
MineSense Technologies is a Vancouver-based mining technology and product development company with a passion for enhancing the sustainability of mining by improving current ore extraction and recovery practices. MineSense intends to be the leader in ore pre-concentration solutions for the mining industry by addressing the global need for improved ore recovery processes through product demonstration and the integration of efficient, sustainable, commercially viable new technologies into new and existing mines.