Tag Archives: copper

GreenGold’s ReCYN processing pipeline continues to grow

Base metals, Environmental, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, Water management, , , , , , , , ,

GreenGold Technology has been making huge waves of late, with its biggest ReCYN resin-based technology build to date nearing completion and several new projects on the horizon.

ReCYN reduces cyanide consumption by up to 50% by capturing free cyanide from plant tailings and recycling it back into the leach circuit while recovering metal complexes and making them available for sale, according to the company. In the process, it detoxifies the tailings stream and guarantees 100%-compliant clean water discharge.

Such technology is in serious demand considering the industry’s operational cost focus, increased stakeholder pressure around the use of cyanide, the need to recycle and replace as much water as possible, and a necessity to improve project economics through the recovery of all payable metals.

On top of this, new and existing gold projects are becoming difficult to process through conventional means with problems around by-products such as copper often proving to be the difference between a sub-economic and economic mine development proposition.

The ReCYN process is based on the use of a functionalised resin bead, pre-treated to allow the dual duty of recovering free and complexed cyanide ions from solution with a high degree of efficiency. GreenGold works with local construction companies to customise treatment plants for each operation to match the various solution chemistries and throughputs, it says.

“The two areas of cyanide recovery and metal detoxification are balanced to achieve the desired compliance levels,” GreenGold says. “Equally applicable to slurries and solutions, the process is technically and economically superior to all others currently available for the detoxification of gold plant tailings.”

The company currently has four ReCYN options for clients, according to Commercial Director, Peter Mellor.

ReCYN I is for active (free) cyanide reduction, while ReCYN II has been devised to include detox applications to recover cyanide complexes such as copper. ReCYN III adds gold recovery as a “secondary function” to the mix.

The fourth option (ReCYN IV) includes gold recovery as a primary option, Mellor told IM, explaining that the development of a plant offering in this configuration could remove the need for a carbon in leach treatment plant in some applications.

It is a ReCYN II installation the company is currently putting the finishing touches to at PT Agincourt Resources’ Martabe gold-silver operation in Sumatra, Indonesia (graphic above).

This project, which will detoxify tailings and recover cyanide and copper, was previously estimated by Whittle Consulting to provide a $126.9 million upside to the project.

Speaking to IM from Australia, Mellor said the company was just over a month away from completing the plant at Martabe before COVID-19 restrictions hit progress. He was confident the company would be back completing plant commissioning before the end of the year.

By far the biggest ReCYN installation of the technology, the ReCYN II plant at Martabe will fit into the 5.5 Mt/y circuit and treat around 1.2 t/d of copper, Mellor said. It will also have benefits in terms of reduced cyanide consumption and improved water quality at the operation.

While work in Indonesia is currently not taking place, the company is making significant progress elsewhere.

Mellor said GreenGold had started detailed engineering for a plant in the Ivory Coast, while it had also completed an economic study on a legacy gold operation in Australia that showed compelling economics and the potential for a ReCYN IV installation for processing gold-bearing tailings.

The company also has some 40 projects it is working on in the laboratory – from Australia to the US – with client awards expected in the next few months.

MICROMINE mobilises a new mine optimisation plan

Automation, Communications in mining, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Upgrading from a voice-based fleet management system to an automated mobile solution enables mine managers to gain critical efficiencies across their site, resulting in a positive effect on their operations’ bottom line, according to MICROMINE.

Nickel-copper-cobalt miner, Independence Group (IGO), recently upgraded to Pitram Mobile at its Nova operation in Western Australia. Nova is one of a growing number of sites across the globe choosing to upgrade from Pitram Voice to the Pitram Mobile solution, MICROMINE says. IGO deployed the mobile software following the successful installation of Pitram Voice in 2018.

Touchscreen tablets were installed in vehicle cabs and integrated with the Pitram software to facilitate data transfer between on-board computers and the Pitram control room, which provides full fleet management insights and analytics functionality.

IGO implemented Pitram Mobile to capture data and insights electronically from its underground mining fleet at Nova, according to MICROMINE. Upgrading to Pitram mobile has assisted the mine to more effectively:

  • Manage safety – by controlling access to dangerous areas and replaying locations and states for incident analysis;
  • Integrate its fleet management system – providing a better picture of situational awareness and vehicle positioning;
  • Decrease mine radio traffic – enhancing safety and operational activities through automatically transmitting critical data from equipment;
  • Apply automated business rules engines;
  • Execute its shift plan – sending tasks to workers from the plan, receiving notifications of completed tasks and facilitating plan compliance;
  • Identify areas of improvement;
  • Increase productivity;
  • Reduce manual data entry and paperwork; and
  • Optimise fleet and personnel.

MICROMINE’s Pitram Account Manager, Tyler Raleigh, said the upgrade was completed in early March 2019, with Pitram specialists spending time on site to assist the IGO Nova team with technical support.

“The mine control and dispatch facilities are designed to provide an increased level of shift data accuracy, which will improve operational efficiencies through effective management of mining operations based on high-quality data,” Raleigh said. “The system provides improved response to emergency situations and greater control in hazard management, as well streamlines administrative tasks through real-time data capture and validation.”

IGO’s Nova Mine Manager, Peter Christen, said improvements are already starting to be seen across the Nova site since the implementation.

“We’re pleased with the results achieved so far since upgrading to Pitram Mobile at Nova,” he said. “The implementation was well managed by the MICROMINE team, with quick uptake and acceptance by our IGO and Barminco site personnel.

“It’s enabled our people to be more in control of the data generated and that means we are seeing greater ownership and uptake of the system. It also allows our mine control operators to validate information quickly and they spend less time on the radio.

“Overall, our experience at Nova has been a positive one and we would definitely recommend Pitram Mobile to other mining companies.”

What is the difference between Pitram Voice and Pitram Mobile?

For those already using Pitram Voice, upgrading to Pitram Mobile offers the following benefits, according to MICROMINE:

  • Automatic detection of load-haul-dump events;
  • Integration of autonomous mining fleet with the rest of the Pitram solution;
  • Integration between Pitram and other on-board payload management systems;
  • Summaries of manually and automatically captured production data to aid in generating draw plans;
  • Increased accuracy of time sensitive data, providing greater visibility of availability bottlenecks; and
  • Removal of reliance on radio communications.

A Pitram automatic upgrade from voice data capture requires a simple upgrade process, MICROMINE says. Pitram uses the same production and reporting database for Pitram Voice as it does for Pitram’s automated solution, so all the work invested in implementing Pitram is retained when upgrading to the more advanced Pitram solution.

Pitram Mobile tablets

Optimise operational performance

As Pitram Mobile allows equipment operators to capture production data through automated on-board systems, or via touchscreens in cabs. Rather than calling in through radios, the solution frees up personnel time and effort, radio airspace and alleviates potential data entry errors.

The tablets or onboard systems capture equipment data, like location, pre-start, status and activities, which is automatically uploaded to servers as soon as vehicles are in range of a wireless (or LTE) network. Pitram Mobile’s automatic data transfer then allows that data to be passed to the Pitram Control Room where analysts and operators can monitor results and refine mine operations.

Utilising the latest technology, automated data capture minimises disruption to primary activities, provides near 100% data accuracy, automated task management, integrated shift planning and can provide live information short interval control for in-shift decision-making.

“By using integrations across communication platforms, Pitram greatly reduces call volumes across the radio network,” MICROMINE says. “Through automatically transmitting key data from equipment, personal and operations, the automated solution revolutionises the mine control room, providing an adaptable user interface for low-level data entry roles as well as for higher-level administrators and in-shift mine managers.”

Pitram Mobile being utilised at IGO Nova

Other key features and benefits include:

  • Ruggedised touchscreen tablets, with various models available to best meet the requirements of individual mines, including dust and water protection;
  • No requirement for additional proprietary hardware, so companies save costs and time in installation if they have existing tablets and network infrastructure;
  • Run using Windows operating systems;
  • Compatible with various underground data collection technologies, including Wi-Fi and Ethernet over leaky feeder;
  • GPS tracking capabilities for surface mines;
  • Speed warning and alarms;
  • Material mis-dump alarms;
  • Payload indicator to minimise overloading or underloading, plus integration with third-party payload monitoring systems;
  • Task allocation and real-time tracking of tasks;
  • Portable data for managers & shift boss – finger on the pulse;
  • Improved accuracy;
  • Reduced two-way traffic to Mine Control; and
  • Operator accountability.

CAML talks tailings technology in inaugural sustainability report

Base metals, Communications in mining, Environmental, IoT, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining industry recognition, Mining safety, Mining software, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , , ,

Central Asia Metals Ltd’s (CAML) first sustainability report highlighted just how far the base metal producer is going to improve safety, reduce its environmental impact and stand out from the rest of AIM-listed mining crowd.

CAML has long been recognised as the most generous dividend payer on the AIM Mining stage, in London, and, COVID-19 impacts aside, it looks like retaining this reputation into the future.

Its technology credentials are less well known, though, and belie its less than $300 million market capitalisation.

In addition to being brave enough to apply in-situ leaching technology to what was viewed as legacy ‘copper waste’ at Kounrad, in Kazakhstan, the company was the first company to use solvent extraction and electrowinning in the country when it started successfully operating the dump leaching operations in 2012, according to CEO Nigel Robinson.

The company, in 2017, acquired the Sasa zinc-lead-silver underground mine in north Macedonia, to complement Kounrad, and it is this asset that will be subject of much of the company’s future innovations.

The just published sustainability report showed, in 2019, Sasa lowered its net water consumption by a substantial 43% thanks to a recycling initiative the company previously put in place.

This saw the percentage of contact and recycled waters used in its flotation plant go from 0 to 47%, equating to a reduction of freshwater abstraction for the flotation plant from 90 l/s at the start of 2019 to 48 l/s at the end of the year, it said.

From this year onwards, the Sasa team intends to continue to maximise the use of recycled waters wherever possible, it said.

Related to water, the company is also, like many miners across the sector, evaluating the future of its tailings dams.

CAML manages five tailings storage facilities (TSF) at Sasa, all of which are constructed using the downstream technique, widely viewed in the industry as the safest design. Construction of the newest dam, TSF4, was completed in 2019, with this now the main active facility.

Yet, with tailings deposition creeping up over the last few years (733,021 t was deposited last year, compared with 718,303 t in 2018 and 709,989 t in 2017), it looks like the newest facility, which holds 4.5-5 Mt, could hit its capacity in 2025/2026.

During 2019, the Sasa operations team completed a life of mine study to determine the optimal mining method for the operation going forward and, based on the study, the board took the decision, in principle, to change the mining method to cut and fill stoping.

This method – deemed more appropriate both in terms of its operational benefits and environmental and social impacts – would see the voids created from mining underground filled with a paste comprised, in part, of process plant tailings.

“Initial estimations suggest that over 40% of Sasa’s life of mine tailings could be stored underground,” the company said in the report, meaning the construction of future downstream tailings storage facilities would not be required.

Yet, on top of this, dry stacking is also being weighed up, according to Robinson.

“The likely solution is using at least 40% of future tailings as part of the paste backfill, plus utilising the full capacity of the recently constructed facility and then dry stack tailings as well,” he told IM, adding that the company was still carrying out technical studies on these aspects. These studies were scheduled for completion in the second half of the year.

Lastly on the Sasa TSF, CAML said its Sustainability Director, in 2019, attended a conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where a draft of the proposed Global Tailings Standard was presented.

The International Council on Mining and Metals, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Principles for Responsible Investment co-convened the Global Tailings Review in February 2019 to establish this international TSF standard following the tailings dam failure at Vale’s Corrego do Feijão mine in Brumadinho, Brazil, earlier that year.

The draft standard was made available for public consultation in November 2019, but the publication of the full standard was recently postponed following the COVID-19 outbreak.

Having reviewed the proposed standard internally, CAML said its intention, in 2020, was for Sasa to be audited externally relative to this standard.

At the underground mine, itself, CAML is investing in a Wi-Fi communications backbone to improve health and safety and operational efficiencies at the mine, Robinson said. This will allow the company to know where each machine is at any given time and, in terms of efficiency, “we’ll be able to monitor utilisation much more accurately and, therefore, identify areas for improvement”, he added.

Another development that could both boost efficiency and safety at the mine, is the introduction of remotely-operated LHDs.

Robinson said two Epiroc ST7 Scooptrams from its existing fleet were being fitted with ‘line of sight’ capabilities to enable personnel to stay outside of the machine and operate the vehicles in areas that may be susceptible to rockfalls and other hazards.

RCT OEM-agnostic teleremote solution favoured at Kazzinc UG mine

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RCT says its ControlMaster® Teleremote solution has bested a competitive offering from a global original equipment manufacturer (OEM) on a project for an underground mine in Kazakhstan.

The company said ControlMaster was selected over the OEM’s technology option as it could be tailored to the Tishinsky mine’s specific requirements.

RCT worked with local Cat dealer Borusan Kazakhstan to install and commission the automation technology on two Cat R1700G underground loaders and associated Automation Centres located within the underground mine.

The ControlMaster Teleremote solution is now being used at the Tishinsky copper mine, in north-eastern Kazakhstan, part of the Ridder underground complex, owned by Kazzinc (majority owned by Glencore).

Going forward, RCT says it will manufacture the teleremote technology for an additional 12 Cat R1700G and Cat R1300G underground loaders, while Borusan Kazakhstan will install this equipment at the Tishinsky and Dolinnoye (also part of Ridder) mines.

“The teleremote solution enables machine operators to control the machine from a secure station in the underground mine with the help of strategically placed cameras and sensors,” RCT said. “Teleremote technology enables machine operators to access the machine’s full range of functions that they would normally have if they were sitting in the machine’s cab.”

The company has also supplied its new digital communications network, RCT Connect, and integrated it with the underground loaders.

RCT Connect, launched earlier this year, is designed specifically for autonomous and teleremote machine operations in underground mining environments and can provide low latency, consistent communications between command inputs from the mine’s surface and subsequent machine activities, according to RCT.

RCT’s Moscow-based Business Development Manager – CIS, Stephen Macarow, said he is pleased to have completed the project in partnership with Borusan Kazakhstan.

“Our teleremote solution means the operators will control the loaders from inside the Automation Centre and they will be protected from the hazardous conditions often found at the mine face including geotechnical risks, dust, exhaust fumes and temperatures as low as -27⁰C,” he said.

“The mining company will also experience improved site productivity through reduced shift handover times and less unplanned maintenance downtime from machine operator errors.”

He added: “RCT has been supplying proven technological solutions to the mining industry in Kazakhstan and the broader CIS region for over 25 years and we look forward to providing more autonomous solutions in the future.”

A spokesperson for Borusan Kazakhstan said the company has been working with RCT since 2008 and in that time has delivered multiple automation projects for the Kazakhstan mining industry, including at the Tishinsky mine.

“Borusan Kazakhstan has been actively watching the regional mining market, and in cooperation with RCT has developed teleremote technology that is suitable for the CIS market,” the spokesperson said.

“In collaboration with RCT, Borusan Kazakhstan currently provides remote control and teleremote solution implementation, standard and adapted-for-the-customer equipment delivery, maintenance services and employee technology training.”

DMC Mining invests in new Sandvik, Herrenknecht equipment for Chile projects

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DMC Mining Services says it is ramping up activity in Chile, after being awarded five new contracts at the end of 2019.

One of North America’s premier underground contractors, DMC recently secured work at KGHM’s Franke and Sierra Gorda mines, in the Antofagasta region, in addition to a boxhole boring assignment at Codelco’s El Teniente mine, near Rancagua.

To ensure maximum reliability and performance for its clients, the company has invested in new equipment, it said.

For its drilling project at the open-pit Franke mine, two truck mounted Sandvik DE712 diamond drills have been delivered to site. Two additional units, Sandvik DE881 multi-purpose drills, will follow in order to increase drilling capability for this project and an additional project at Sierra Gorda, a 110,000 t/d of ore open-pit operation, it said.

For the boxhole boring project at Codelco’s El Teniente mine, the biggest underground copper mine in the world, DMC has taken delivery of a Herrenknecht BBM1500 boxhole boring machine. Two additional BBR1500 units are on order, which include back-reaming capability to create larger diameter raises, it said.

DMC said: “We are proud of the progress our Chilean team has accomplished over several short months, and that our clients can always rely on DMC’s dedication, expertise and professionalism on any project, no matter where in the world we work.”

As its Chile team ramps up on these new projects, DMC is establishing a turnkey, comprehensive operation ready to serve not only new Chile clients, but all of the South American mining industry – with raiseboring, shaft sinking, underground mining and engineering capabilities – it said.

Vale extends care and maintenance period at Voisey’s Bay

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Vale says it is extending the care and maintenance period at its Voisey’s Bay mine in Labrador, Canada, by up to three months while continuing to monitor progress and events associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 16, Vale announced a four-week care and maintenance period at Voisey’s Bay due to the “unique remoteness of the area” and as a precaution to help protect the health and well-being of Nunatsiavut and Innu indigenous communities in Labrador in the face of the COVID-19 spread.

The company said, as of yesterday, no employee at Voisey’s Bay had tested positive for the virus.

The Long Harbour processing plant will continue to operate, drawing down on stockpiled concentrates to produce nickel and cobalt at forecast levels, the company said. Copper concentrate production at the site will be reduced due to the mine stoppage, with an impact of up to 6,000 t in the first half of 2020.

The company said: “Vale reaffirms its commitment to the safety of its people and the communities in which it operates and will keep investors and markets informed of future developments.”

Mexico miners to suspend operations for April following government decree

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Mexico has become the latest country to enforce a suspension of non-essential activities in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with its Ministry of Health ordering a temporary halt of activities until April 30 in order to slow the virus spread.

Mexico is the world’s largest silver producer, having produced 6,300 t of the precious metal in 2019, according to the US Geological Survey. This was an increase of 180 t, year-on-year. It is also hosts major copper and zinc mines operated by Grupo Mexico and Southern Copper, and produces a significant amount of gold.

It joins the likes of Peru, Quebec and South Africa in declaring suspensions of all non-essential activities in order to curb the spread of the virus.

Among the miners with operations in the country to have already reacted to the Mexico Ministry of Health’s announcement was Newmont, Pan American Silver, Sierra Metals and Argonaut Gold.

Newmont, which operates the Peñasquito mine in the state of Zacatecas, said it was taking steps towards a safe and orderly ramp down of operations at the asset.

“At this time, mining has not been deemed an essential activity under the decree and the company is engaging with the government to understand the intended impacts of the decree on operations,” it said.

“Peñasquito will work closely with local governments, neighbouring communities, employees, unions and contractors to ensure a safe and orderly ramp down that complies with the federal government’s directives.”

Tom Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Newmont, said the company intended to comply with Mexico’s latest directive, while engaging with the government to gain further clarity regarding “important activities that may continue at the mine”.

In the meantime, the company would ensure Peñasquito, which is the largest gold mine, second largest silver mine and one of the largest producers of zinc and lead in Mexico, remains well-positioned to safely and efficiently ramp up operations in a timely manner once the government’s directive is lifted, Palmer added. This includes maintaining critical safety, environmental management, infrastructure maintenance and security activities, while continuing to provide essential community support.

Pan American Silver, which operates the La Colorada (Zacatecas, pictured) and Dolores (Chihuahua) operations in Mexico, said it would expand its initiative of reducing the number of people on site to increase physical distancing, to bring the mines into compliance with the executive order.

It is continuing to conduct care and maintenance at the suspended operations to sustain strict safety and environmental systems, and to ensure operational readiness when the government restrictions are lifted and Pan American determines it is safe to resume operations, it added.

La Colorada produced 8.2 Moz of silver in 2019, while Dolores’ output came in at 5.1 Moz.

As a result of this declaration, Sierra Metals said it will only maintain an essential services crew at its Bolivar mine site until April 30, and the Cusi mine site will be placed into care and maintenance during this period. “The company anticipates resuming normal production levels at the mines after this period,” it said.

Bolivar, an underground mine with a 3,600 t/d processing capacity, had previously been expected to produce 16,402- 18,225 t of copper-equivalent in 2020, while the Cusi underground mine was down to produce 1,732-2,126 oz of silver.

Sierra Metals added: “Production can recommence to normal levels very quickly after April 30, and the company has some operating flexibility at Bolivar to run the ore processing mill at higher levels, which should help recover lost ore tonnages from this suspension.”

Argonaut Gold, which is looking to merge with Alio Gold – a transaction that will see it increase its Mexico exposure – said it was working towards an orderly suspension of mining, crushing and stacking activities at its El Castillo gold-silver open-pit mine in Durango, and its La Colorada open-pit operation in Sonora. These assets produced 131,277 gold-equivalent ounces and 55,338 gold-equivalent ounces, respectively, in 2019.

The company added: “Given that Argonaut operates heap leach mines, the company expects metal production and metal sales will continue during the temporary suspension of mining activities.”

Renewable power on its way to Antofagasta’s Centinela mine

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Antofagasta has signed a new power purchase agreement (PPA) with ENGIE Energía Chile SA that will see 100% of the power supplied to its Centinela copper operation, in Chile, come from renewable sources.

The contract, from 2022 until 2033, will replace two existing PPAs Antofagasta had in place that expire in 2026 and 2027. It will also see the company sell its indirect 40% interest in the Hornitos thermal power station to ENGIE, resulting in an attributable post-tax write down of some $43 million, it said.

After the write down, this new renewable energy contract will be value accretive as power costs will be significantly reduced in stages from 2020 onwards, Antofagasta noted.

Antofagasta’s CEO, Iván Arriagada, said: “With the completion of this agreement, from 2022, all our mining division’s power will be from renewable sources, and at a lower cost as well. This is an important step in achieving our target to reduce our carbon emissions by 300,000 t by 2022.”

Robit drilling consumables in transit to Norilsk Nickel

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Robit says it has signed a contract to supply drilling tools to Norilsk Nickel, in Norilsk, Russia, with the deliveries expected to take place during April and May.

Norilsk is in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, and located above the Arctic Circle. Since there are no roadway or railway connections, all freight is delivered by cargo ship via the Arctic Ocean to the Port of Dudinka, in Murmansk, or by air. The Robit drilling consumables are to be delivered by sea, Robit said.

Norilsk Nickel is one of Russia’s leading metals and mining company, a manufacturer of palladium and refined nickel, and one of the biggest platinum and copper producers in the world. The company also produces cobalt, rhodium, silver, gold, iridium, ruthenium, selenium, tellurium, and sulphur.

Robit, meanwhile, provides drilling consumables for applications in mining, construction and contracting, tunnelling, and well drilling. It has two product and service ranges: top hammer and down-the-hole.

Last month, the company signed a two-year contract to supply drilling tools to Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Co, in Saudi Arabia, for underground jumbo rigs at its Al Masane copper-zinc mine. The tools are to be supplied by Robit’s distributor, Bin Harkhil.

In February, Robit delivered its first consignment of rods for underground drilling to Ma’aden’s Al Amar underground gold-copper-zinc mine, in Saudi Arabia.

BHP to bolster Australia workforce with new short-term hires

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BHP says it is to hire 1,500 additional people to support its workforce operating across Australia.

The 1,500 jobs will be offered as six-month contracts and cover a range of skills needed by BHP operations in the short term, it said. These jobs will support and bolster its existing workforce during a difficult time when the COVID-19 virus continues to spread.

Yesterday, the company said it was accelerating payment of outstanding invoices and the reduction of payment terms for its small business partners and regional communities in Australia in response to the outbreak.

The roles will include machinery and production operators, truck and ancillary equipment drivers, excavator operators, diesel mechanics boilermakers, trades assistants, electricians, cleaners and warehousing roles across BHP’s coal, iron ore and copper operations in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. The jobs will be offered through existing labour hire partners and BHP contracts in each state, it said.

Following the initial six-month contract, BHP will look to offer permanent roles for some of these jobs. BHP will continue to assess this program and may increase the number of jobs available, it added.

BHP Acting Minerals Australia President, Edgar Basto, said supporting the company’s employees, communities and partners, safely, is the highest priority.

“As part of BHP’s social distancing measures we are introducing more small teams with critical skills to work dynamically across different shifts,” he said.

“The government has said that resources industry is vital in Australia’s response to the global pandemic. We are stepping up and providing jobs and contracts. Our suppliers, large and small, play a critical role in supporting our operations. It is a tough time for our communities and the economy. We must look out for each other as we manage through this together.”