Tag Archives: Richard Williams

McLanahan and Mincore collaborate on gold processing plant upgrade

Environmental, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, Water management, , , , , , , ,

McLanahan recently helped process consultancy firm, Mincore, come up with a solution for managing the gold leach tailings at one of Australia’s oldest gold operations near Bendigo, Victoria.

With the gold processing plant recently undergoing a series of process upgrades, several technology partners were engaged by Mincore. McLanahan was one, with its 10M Elevated Thickener coming into play.

Richard Williams, McLanahan Global Product Manager, said: “Mincore and McLanahan have worked on a number of project studies previously. Having local engineering capability and support on both sides made the engagement much more efficient in being able to review process data and confirm the specific thickener operation and construction requirements.”

Williams said a local manufacture and relatively low overall delivered cost solution would be the best fit for the client. “Modular design provides the flexibility to manufacture in more locations and provides more certainty around time-sensitive projects,” he explained.

Due to the nature of the processing plant, Mincore specified material and design aspects to account for the highly acidic and corrosive process streams, according to McLanahan. A specific sealant was procured for the thickener flanges to perform at the correct duty, as well as stringent paint quality assurance including DFT, WFT, pinhole and holiday testing specified by Mincore to confirm coating integrity.

The thickener was designed in-house at McLanahan’s New South Wales location and included several process instruments, including bed pressure, bed level, rake torque and overflow clarity. The tank, support structures and bridge were all manufactured locally for a faster delivery time, taking only 14 weeks for final delivery to the customer’s site, according to the company.

Mincore’s site team was able to support installation by using four experienced technicians and one small mobile crane to place the thickener onto a prepared concrete-bunded hardstand. The modular nature of the tank and bridge allowed for safe, fast and efficient site installation, McLanahan remarked.

Dry commissioning includes checking for correct tank assembly, along with the installation and application of protective treatments, the company said. “During this time, the drive and instrumentation are wired, and the mechanism is checked for correct alignment.”

Once successfully completed, a wet commissioning will be conducted, where the feed to the thickener is introduced and the process outcomes are evaluated for consistency. The process will ensure the instrumentation is operating correctly, and that the data received, and process outcomes, meet the design requirements and overall client specifications.

For this thickener, McLanahan’s customised approach included minimising the number of different fastener sizes and increasing assembly speed by minimising tooling and guesswork on site.
Additionally, McLanahan designed in the following aspects:

  • Integrated lifting attachment points preventing damage to paint and eliminating the need for the customer to source specialised lifting equipment;
  • A completely match-marked assembly system using large weld metal as marking to increase assembly speed;
  • Integrated electrical cable trays and conduits that reduce site work and damage to paint coating;
  • Local marshalling panel readout of all instruments complete with trending and status providing operator feedback in real time without needing to return to the control room;
  • Maximised space and clearance under the tank, facilitating pump and instrument access and maintenance; and
  • Integrated product sampling points at multiple locations around the tank to confirm process outcomes.

Strongbow gains local council backing for South Crofty mine re-start plan

Environmental, History of mining, Mineral project development, Mining finance, Mining project news, Precious metals, , , , , , , ,

Cornwall Council has voted overwhelmingly in support of a £1 million ($1.3 million) investment into Strongbow Exploration, according to the tin-focused company.

The news follows a press release late last year that stated the council had voted unanimously in favour of the proposed investment, subject to Strongbow adding a dual listing on the London’s AIM exchange to its existing Toronto listing.

Richard Williams, Strongbow CEO, said: “We welcome this very positive decision for the project, which reflects the high level of cooperation between the local community, Cornwall Council and Strongbow, where all parties share the common goal of responsible mine development in an urban environment and high quality job creation.

“We look forward to advancing the project to a production decision.”

Cornwall Council Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economy, Bob Egerton, said: “Cornwall has a global reputation for exporting expertise and knowledge in mining and the council is clear in its desire to support this sector to re-start production in Cornwall and bring with it much needed high-value jobs. If successful, restarting mining at South Crofty could create over 300 jobs and make a real difference to an area with high levels of deprivation.”

South Crofty is an iconic former producing copper and tin mine located in the towns of Camborne and Pool, Cornwall, England. The first documented production history from South Crofty dates back to 1592, and it was the last tin mine to close in Cornwall in 1998.

The project received an underground permission (mining licence) in 2013, which is valid until 2071, and planning permission to construct a new process plant in 2011. In October 2017, Strongbow was successful in securing a water discharge permit allowing for the dewatering of the now flooded mine workings.

Strongbow is now focused on completing the listing on AIM and completion of the water treatment plant so the mine can be dewatered. Strongbow plans to bring the project to a production decision and complete a feasibility study in parallel with the mine dewatering process.

A 2017 preliminary economic assessment on South Crofty outlined an eight-year project that mined 2.575 Mt of mineralised material with an average grade of 1.55% Sn-equivalent. Strongbow estimated it would require $118.7 million in pre-production capital expenditure to get the mine re-started.