The Gekko Systems team has announced a major landmark with the sale of its 200th production scale InLine Leach Reactor (ILR) to Marmato Mine in Colombia, operated by Aris Mining Colombia. The InLine Leach Reactor was invented in 1997 by Gekko’s Technical Director and Co-Founder Sandy Gray one year after the start-up of Gekko in 1996.
The concept of chemically treating gravity gold concentrates rather than using physical recovery on a shaking table was driven by the poor recoveries (50-60%) and low security associated with shaking table devices which were standard uses. Typically, gold plants would experience a spike in cyclone overflow and high tailings grades when gravity concentrates were being treated by tables in the gold room and before intensive cyanidation became standard in gold operations. Key people like Nick Mooney and Nick Katsikaros made significant contributions to the concept and efficacy of the operation.
The ILR was the first commercialised intensive leach technology and Gekko says it remains the global technical and market leader in the gold industry worldwide. Gekko adds: “Sandy and Gekko’s award-winning technical and design team continue to constantly review and improve ease of operation and recoveries from the unit which typically run around 98-99%. Whilst developed in Australia, the concept really took off in Africa first with AngloGold Ashanti installing units in many of their operations in the late 1990s and is now installed worldwide.”
Fully optimised to mining operations, the ILR boasts consistent free gold recoveries of over 98% as well as superior recoveries of gold from complex sulphide ores. Leaching coarse (>300 micron) gravity concentrates and recycling leach solutions delivers low energy and operating costs. Rapid leach kinetics and an automated system provide fast mineral recoveries. In place of open shaking tables that are prone to theft, the enclosed ILR has lockable access points to protect against theft losses and reduce manual handling.
The ILR can be easily retrofitted to any grinding circuit. The modular, small footprint design requires minimal space for integration. The ILR’s chemical handling is automated and important leach parameters are electronically controlled, making operations faster and safer. Tailings generated are smaller and can be coupled with the detoxification of cyanide, which protects the environment.
