The SART process - Expomin · PDF fileThe SART process: an attractive technology to recover copper and cyanide from gold mining ... Lluvia de Oro Gedabek Mastra Maricunga (under construct.)

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The SART process: an attractive technology to recover

copper and cyanide from gold mining

Humberto Estay Cuenca, Pablo Carvajal Febre and

Francisco Arriagada House

Arcadis Chile

2 © 2009 ARCADIS 23 April 2012

Contents

1. Introduction

2. The SART process

• Description of the SART process

• SART process integration in cyanidation

circuit

3. Main aspects of design and safety of the SART

process

4. Case of study

5. Overview of the current SART plants in the world

6. Conclusions


1. Introduction

Copper

content in

Gold Ore

Presence of

Cyanide

Soluble Copper

• In some cases, contaminating

dore metal

• Increases the cyanide

consumption

• Gradual increment in the

concentration of copper in

solution circuit

• Reducing Au adsorption in

carbon stage

• Increasing elusion cycle

Increases the operational cost and reduces the incomes,

reducing the mine resources and profitability of the project


1. Introduction

ARCADIS CHILE has conducted the design of SART plant for Maricunga (750 m3/h), the

second largest SART plant in the world, among others studies (design and pilot plants

operations)

Cu-CN

(aq) SART Process

Cu2S

CN-

The SART Process (Sulphidization, Acidification, Recycling and Thickening) is a new

technology developed by Lakefield Research in Canada (MacPhail, P., Fleming, C., Sarbutt, K.

1998)


2. The SART process - description

NaSH Solution

H2SO4

SART Reactor

Lime

Cu2S

NaOH

Treated Solution

CN-

Gypsum

Wash Water

Wash Water

Precipitate THK

Gypsum THK

Neut Reactor

Pp Filter

Gypsum Filter

Flocculant

Flocculant

2

442 )(22 SOacHCNSOHCN

)(6)(6)(2 2

22

3 acHCNsSCuHSCNCu

SART Rx, pH 4-5

OHCNCaOHCaacHCN 222 2)()()(2

Neut Rx, pH 11

Treated Air

NaOH

Scrubber


2. The SART process - integration

HEAP LEACH

ADR/EW PLS Pond

Barren Solution

Barren Pond

NaCN

SART

NaSH, H2SO4

Ca(OH)2

Cu2S

Gypsum

Dore

Metal


3. Main aspects of design and safety of the SART process

• Copper recovery and reagents consumptions Laboratory tests

• Defining plant capacity Q(SART)=f([Cu]eq)

• Design of solid-liquid separation operations Pilot plant tests

• Design focused to personnel safety Extraction system,

sealed equipments and

gas sensors


4. Case of study

HEAP LEACH

ADR/EW PLS Pond

Barren Solution

Barren Pond

NaCN

SART

NaSH, H2SO4

Ca(OH)2

Cu2S

Gypsum

Dore

Metal

Operational Data:

• HL treatment: 20,000 t/day

• Gold grade: 0.8 g/t

• Gold recovery: 60%

• Copper CN-sol grade: 600 g/t

• Copper dissolution: 65%

• NaCN base consumption: 0.15

kg/t (not include CN cons. by Cu)

• Life of mine: 10 years

• SART Recovery: 90%


4. Case of study

Metallurgical Impact

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

0 20 40 60 80 100

[Cu

], m

g/l

PLS Fraction Treated in SART Plant, %

[Cu] Concentration in ADR Plant

0

1.000

2.000

3.000

4.000

5.000

6.000

7.000

0 15 30 50 65 90 100

Mas

s, t

on

/ye

ar

PLS Fraction Treated in SART Plant, %

Copper Production and NaCN Recovered

Cu Prod

NaCN Rec

10 © 2009 ARCADIS 23 April 2012

4. Case of study

0

50.000

100.000

150.000

200.000

250.000

300.000

350.000

No Cu 0% SART 15% SART

30% SART

50% SART

65% SART

90% SART

100% SART

NP

V, k

US$

Cases

Impact of SART Plant in NPVEconomic Impact

• Gold Price: 1,200 US$/Oz

• Copper Price: 2.4 US$/lb

• NaCN Cost: 2,200 US$/ton

• Base Op. Cost: 5.0 US$/ton

(not include NaCN cost)

• SART Op. Cost: 0.8 US$/m3

• Invest. Cost: 500 MUS$

• SART Invest. Cost: 60,000

US$/(m3/h)

• Discount Rate: 5%

11 © 2009 ARCADIS 23 April 2012

4. Case of study Economic Impact (Assuming increasing mining resources)

0

100.000

200.000

300.000

400.000

500.000

600.000

No Cu 0% SART 50% SART 10 years

50% SART 12 years

50% SART 15 years

NP

V, k

US$

Cases

Impact of SART Plant in NPV

SART Process could increase the mine resources and NPV of the project

12 © 2009 ARCADIS 23 April 2012

5. Overview of Current SART Plants in the World

Plant Telfer Yanacocha Lluvia de

Oro Gedabek Mastra

Maricunga

(under

construct.)

Country Australia Peru Mexico Azerbaijan Turkey Chile

Capacity, m3/h 40 1,200 340 140 120 750

Flow Treated PLS PLS - PLS - PLS

[Cu], mg/l 1,000 1,000 - 800 1,500 450

Cu Rec, % 90 70 95 95 99 80

Cu Prod, t/d 0.9 20 1.0 2.5 4.0 6.5

Year Op. 2006 2008 2008 2009 2010 2012

13 © 2009 ARCADIS 23 April 2012

6. Conclusions

• The SART process is a strong option to treat cyanide solutions with copper

contents, recovering copper and cyanide from the process.

• The correct design of a SART plant must include laboratory and pilot plant test

works, in order to define the main equipments. Additionally, design must be

focused on ensuring the safety of the personnel.

• The case of study demonstrates that SART process increases the profitability

of a cyanidation plant with copper contents and make possible the treatment

of gold ores with high soluble copper contents, even increasing the mine

resources.

• Five SART plants are currently operating in the world, and one under

construction, showing the high interest and feasibility of this technology.

14 © 2009 ARCADIS 23 April 2012

Thank you

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The SART process - Expomin · PDF fileThe SART process: an attractive technology to recover copper and cyanide from gold mining ... Lluvia de Oro Gedabek Mastra Maricunga (under construct.)