Paul Dempsey

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HydrometallurgyStrategic fit with mine of the
future
Paul Dempsey SAIMM Hydrometallurgy Conference
2009
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Copper Production With Time
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Nickel Production With Time
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Zinc Production With Time
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Major Process Technology Developments
Answers often exist before the questions arise
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Requirements of the Mine of the Future

• Zero harm to people and the environment
• Negligible environmental footprint
• Energy and water efficient processes
• Processes broadly economic
• Product custodianship

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SWOT Analysis on Hydrometallurgy strategic fit
Strengths Opportunities
Flexibility Relative energy efficiency Competitive economics Knowledge In situ processing Heap and dump leaching Alternative lixiviants Piggy back processes Bulk concentrate treatment Dormant deposits Effluent treatment Synergistic processes
Weaknesses Threats
Solid/liquid separation Selectivity Toxicity of some lixiviants reagents Containment of effluents Reagent recycle Fundamental process understanding Process control Electrowinning - energy intensive Availability of water Perceived effluent toxicity Hazard perception Environmental footprint
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Economic transformation of dormant deposits
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Process Flexibility Pressure Oxidation
Augt90
100
100
Au80
Ault80
95
Cu leaching
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Sulfide to Acid
Cu
Acid
90
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LOW T
AAC/UBC
TPOX
95ºC
150ºC
220ºC
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Piggy Back Processing

• Increased accuracy of mining
• Ore Upgrading
• Scavenger concentrate treatment
• Bulk concentrate treatment
• Slag treatment
• Increased vertical integration

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Alternative lixiviants

• Cyanide alternatives
• Chloride nitrate processes
• Heap and dump leach
• Less Toxic
• Improved containment
• Improved recycle

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Synergistic processes

• Compression of the value chain
• Energy balance synergies
• Acid balance synergies
• Differential clustering of stages
• Real time whole process
• optimisation

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Any Questions ?