Gekko Systems has received formal acceptance of the Hera processing plant by Aurelia Metals. The handover of the plant followed the successful completion of performance trials by Gekko. An Aurelia Metals announcement, dated September 23, quotes: The performance trials included: a continuous 240-hour operating run, processing 9,600 t of ore, including a continuous 12-hour run at 50 t/h; equipment performance tests; and grinding and environmental compliance tests.
Aurelia’s Managing Director, Rimas Kairaitis, commented: “We are delighted to accept the Hera process plant following successful construction, commissioning and performance trials. Plant acceptance and first gold sales represent further important milestones for the Hera project and the company.”
This project has been the most significant that Gekko has undertaken and it is proud to announce the plant has been completed on time and on cost. This large-scale project commenced in May 2013, when Gekko was the successful tenderer to design, manufacture, install and commission the 50 t/h gold polymetallic processing plant. Prior to receiving the contract, Gekko undertook a comprehensive test work program for Aurelia Metals and received positive feedback on the low-energy, cost-effective flowsheet.
Gekko Systems’ co-founder and Technical Director, Sandy Gray, commented, “The plant has been running successfully for several weeks in a stable condition. More than 1,000 t of lead-zinc concentrate has been produced along with several gold and silver bars. This has been Gekko’s most significant project and includes plenty of new technology to Gekko including, Vertimill, Derrick screens, and Merrill Crowe.”
The major components of the plant design are: a three-stage crushing circuit and coarse grind to 250 micron consisting of a jaw and cone crusher, vertical shaft impactor (VSI) and a Metso Vertimill® enclosed circuit with a Derrick screen; gravity gold recovery circuit; rougher flotation at 250 micron before regrind of rougher flotation concentrate to 38 micron; cleaner flotation; cyanide leach of cleaner concentrate to leach gold and silver; zinc precipitation process to produce Au-Ag doré; leach residue filtration and stockpiling of Pb-Zn concentrate; and a peroxide cyanide destruction circuit.