Reflecting the market’s interest in pre-concentration flowsheets, Gekko Systems reports that its laboratory and process flow design teams “have had a strong year to date in 2014/15 and this is expected to continue.” The majority of laboratory test work requests are focussed primarily on pre-concentration and/or the amenability of the ore to the Python processing plant for gold.

Gekko’s fully equipped metallurgy laboratory is based in Ballarat, Australia and specialises in gravity, intensive cyanidation, liberation and CGR testwork processes. The testwork is overseen by Senior Metallurgist, Adam Teague, whose qualifications include a Doctorate of Philosophy on gold flotation and leaching and First Class Honours in Metallurgical Engineering. A unique feature of Gekko’s laboratory work includes a full comprehensive report including data analysis and recommendations in addition to the data information normally provided.

Elsewhere, Gekko Systems is expecting to commission an InLine Leach Reactor ILR10000BA at the Alamos Gold Mulatos project in Mexico in early 2015. This unit will expand the leaching capacity at the site following the installation of an ILR5000BA as part of a Gekko crushing, gravity, leaching and electrowinning circuit in 2011. Gekko has also recently received orders for an ILR2000BA to the Adansi Gold for the Asanko project in Ghana and from Serabi Mineracao for the Palito gold project in Brazil. This increases Gekko’s installation base to in excess of 130.

Gekko has also signed a contract for the design, manufacture, supply and installation of a Gekko Gravity Box and InLine Leach Reactor to the Gold Fields Granny Smith operation. This equipment is expected to improve the site’s gold recovery. This is similar to the plant previously designed and supplied to Gold Fields Agnew. The Granny Smith project is in addition to a number of Technical Consulting programs currently being conducted across several other Gold Fields sites.