Tag Archives: Jameson Cell

Lundin Gold receives Jameson Cells for Fruta del Norte expansion

Lundin Gold’s expansion of the Fruta del Norte gold mine processing plant in Ecuador is on track, with three Jameson flotation cells and a concentrate filter having arrived on site in the September quarter, the company says.

The company plans to spend approximately $36 million to increase plant throughput to 5,000 t/d and improve metallurgical recoveries by around 3%.

The focus of the expansion is on tailings and water reclaim, ultrafine flotation (read: Jameson cells), the addition of a third concentrate filter and plant automation.

The Jameson Cell is an innovative flotation process driven by fluid mechanics, Glencore Technology says. The advantages of modern Jameson Cells are:

  • Consistent fine bubble generation with no external equipment or spargers;
  • Intense mixing with small bubbles achieving rapid flotation without mechanical agitation;
  • High throughput in a small footprint;
  • Froth washing to maximise concentrate grade in a single flotation stage;
  • Fast response and easy control;
  • Steady operation and performance irrespective of changes in feed flow; and
  • No moving parts, simple to install and maintain, excellent availability.

Other notable operations/projects to have recently invested in Jameson Cell technology include Aeris Resources’ Tritton copper operations, Hudbay’s Copper World Complex and South32’s Hermosa project.

In the September quarter, detailed engineering for the processing plant expansion at Fruta del Norte was completed, as was procurement of all major items; and concrete work was completed during the quarter, while structural steel erection was ongoing. As mentioned, the three Jameson cells and the concentrate filter arrived, while the new tailings line was successfully commissioned with completion of the reclaim line expected by the end of November.

The processing plant expansion to 5,000 t/d – mapped out in a December 2023 three-year outlook announcement – is a boost on the 4,200 t/d nameplate capacity. In 2024, gold production is anticipated to come in at 450,000-500,000 oz based on an average throughput rate of 4,500 t/d. This could be followed by production of 475,000-525,000 oz in 2025 and 2026 at the 5,000 t/d rate.

Telson Mining ready to experiment with metallurgical innovations at Campo Morado

Telson Mining, following a strong quarter of production from the Campo Morado mine, in Guerrero State, Mexico, is making plans to boost throughput and recoveries through the potential use of grinding, leaching and flotation technologies from the likes of Maelgwyn Mineral Services, Core Group and Glencore Technology.

The mine’s throughput averaged out at 58,100 t/mth in the March quarter, with total throughput for the quarter of 174,400 t being 4% higher than the December quarter. Some 11,013 t of zinc concentrate and 1,907 t of lead concentrate was produced over the period, compared with 9,974 t and 1,916 t, respectively, in the previous quarter.

Gold, silver, lead and zinc recoveries all improved, quarter-on-quarter, in the first three months of the year, the company added.

Ralph Shearing, Telson CEO and President, said: “These strong first quarter results continue to reflect our steady progression of improving the throughput and recoveries at Campo Morado. To this end, management intends to initiate a rigorous metallurgical testing program to advance through second phase testing the Leachox™ Process of Maelgwyn Mineral Services and the Albion Process™ of Core Group, both of which returned positive test results in first phase testing.”

He said this metallurgical testing program will also study the ability to increase base metal recoveries at microfine grinding with flotation recovery using Imhoflot Flotation (also Maelgwyn) and Jameson Cell (Glencore Technology) flotation technologies, both designed for such purposes.

“We are confident that additional recovery improvements are available utilising these exciting modern technologies which, if successful, can provide increased revenue streams,” Shearing added.

Maelgwyn’s Leachox Process consists of several Maelgwyn proprietary processes linked together including Imhoflot G-Cell flotation technology, ultra-fine grinding using the Ro-Star mill, Aachen Reactors and Aachen assisted cyanide destruction.

The Albion Process, meanwhile, is a combination of ultrafine grinding and oxidative leaching at atmospheric pressure. The feed to the Albion Process is refractory base or precious metal concentrates, where the sulphides in the feed are oxidised and liberated, allowing the target metals to be recovered by conventional means.