As part of a series of presentations at today’s Bulk Seminar & Site Visit by Anglo American in Brisbane, Dave Palmer, Head of P101, Anglo’s focus on exceeding industry best-in-class process & equipment, gave an update on its investment in bulk sorting at the Barro Alto nickel operation in Brazil. A first MMD unit is being installed there this month, which IM understands will handle 400 t/h; while another two units are set to be installed there by 2021.

The first Barro Alto trial is set to commence by end 2019 and the company is aiming for up to 30% grade improvement and a ~5,000 t/y increase in production. Anglo additionally states that the cost is some ~$10 million per unit with a 15% in unit costs improvement target.

Bulk sorting is another pioneering innovation being used by Anglo – primary ore sorting in the pit. By taking advantage of the natural variations within orebodies, Anglo American says it can use the technology to identify and reject gangue (waste rock) close to the mine face. This means that it can reduce its energy intensity by more than 10%, as less reject gangue is being processed in its plants.

MMD has supplied the bulk sorting system design and concept, which includes a grizzly, feeder, sizer, conveyors & associated equipment, used in conjunction with an ore scanning system. In addition to Barro Alto the first 500 t/h proof of concept has been running for some time at Anglo’s El Soldado copper mine in Chile and other units are set to be rolled out at other Anglo American copper sites in Chile including Los Bronces. Elsewhere, in South Africa, MMD is in the process of commissioning another proof of concept installation at Anglo’s Mogalakwena platinum operation. This is larger, at 1,000 t/h.