Step change in cobber productivity
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
PRESS RELEASE
A new leaching technology from FLSmidth can increase the output copper by 3%.
That would mean an extra USD 40 million per year for an average copper mine with
primary sulfide ore.
The top ore layer of an open pit copper mine is easily processed using heap
leach in tandem with solvent extraction and electrowinning to produce copper
cathodes. The copper mineral most predominate in mines is however chalcopyrite
(CuFeS2), a refractory sulfide mineral that is found deeper in the mine.
Consequently, mining companies struggle to maintain copper production during the
transition from oxide ore to sulfide ore as open pit mines reach the later
stages of development. Mining companies also struggle to recover the copper from
very low-grade concentrates and from concentrates contaminated with arsenic.
FLSmidth have just filed patents for a new hydrometallurgy process called the
FLSmidth® Rapid Oxidative Leach that can economically remove the pacification
layer of primary sulfides and thereby allow the extraction of cobber. The
technology operates at atmospheric pressure and temperature around 80oC, making
it possible to leach directly at the mine and hence provide a seamless
transition from oxide ore to sulfide concentrates.
Faster, simpler, more out of less: enhancing productivity
While existing atmospheric leach processes leach a maximum of 95% copper in
20-60 hours, the FLSmidth® Rapid Oxidative Leach process can leach more than
98% of copper from concentrates containing as low as 8% copper in less than 6
hours; a faster and much simpler process.
And that, as Head of Group R&D, Jens Almdal, points out is a giant leap in
productivity improvements: "For a copper mine with remaining low quality copper
deposits producing around 200,000 ton copper per year our 3% output increase
would mean an extra USD 40 million per year with a copper price around USD 6600
per ton. That is indeed a significant contribution to profitability in an
industry that normally chases 0.1-0.2% increase in copper recovery by design
modifications of flotation machinery," Jens Almdal states.
For copper producers, the new technology could mean a renewed business case for
remaining deposits: several existing mines have lost the ability to make copper
concentrates suitable for smelting. The FLSmidth® Rapid Oxidative Leach
technology makes it possible to recover more copper from low grade concentrate.
Also, there are mineral deposits yet to be developed that are unsuitable for
smelting but with the new technology would be suitable for leaching.
Allowing previously unused deposits to be explored
The new technology also makes it possible to develop mineral deposits containing
arsenic for recovery of copper, gold and silver, while complying with stringent
environmental air and land pollution regulations. As the new technology operates
at atmospheric pressure, a concentrate can be treated at the mine location, with
complete control over the arsenic-bearing residues generated after leaching.
This makes it possible to avoid the potential of arsenic contamination of sea,
air and land while en route from mine to smelter.
"A lot of existing mines have piles of copper concentrate with more than 0.5%
arsenic concentrations which is too high for smelting. Our technology can be
used to process these piles of high arsenic concentrate or even make it possible
to develop new mineral deposits high in arsenic," explains Jens Almdal.
FLSmidth have patents pending for the new technology and a cooperation initiated
with two customers with the technology expected to be implemented in large scale
in 2017.
Please address any questions regarding this press release to Senior
Communications Advisor Jette Westerdahl, FLSmidth & Co. A/S at +45 30 93 18 55.
Link to PDF version:
http://hugin.info/2106/R/1919655/687413.pdf
This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of
GlobeNewswire clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: FLSmidth via GlobeNewswire
[HUG#1919655]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 07.05.2015 - 08:26 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 391653
Anzahl Zeichen: 4786
contact information:
Town:
Valby
Kategorie:
Business News
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Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"Step change in cobber productivity"
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FLSmidth (Nachricht senden)
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