LEACHING & SX/EW
each line which gives the best control of pressure. Alternatively, use a larger
pressure valve for an entire zone.
Use Emitters that are Plug Resistant: If emitters plug production is lost
because the application rate of solution in that area will change. Furthermore if a
high number of emitters are plugged it increases the system pressure and causes
the remaining emitters to over apply solution.
Space out emitters: Over saturation is associated with close spacing of
emitters. By spreading out the wetting patterns it allows forincreased
capillary movement of solution and reduces saturation. Wetting diameter is
usually 76 cm in diameter or more, except in extremely sandy soils (like
beach sand). It is always surprising how far the solution spreads
underground and there are virtually no dry spots between emitters below
the surface. Typical spacing would be 2 litre at 46 cm, 4 litre at 60 cm and 8
litre at 80 cm, depending on desired application rate. Also, significant cost
savings result from spreading out the emitters and reducing emitter line
purchase proportionately.
Dry out saturated pad: If pads do become over saturated it is wise to let
them dry out. Allow time for gravity to drain the excess solution from the
pad. When the draining stops, the pad will remain at field capacity but air
with oxygen will have filled the pore spaces. Finally, reapply the solution at
the proper rate.
Break up soil sealing: Oversaturated ore with a high silt/clay content
probably means the ‘soil’ has been sealed. Once this happens solution can
no longer penetrate and consequently leach solution application is very
uneven. It is recommended to use a ripper to break up the sealing close to
the surface.
Process monitoring
BASF’s Mining Solutions team services over 90 customer locations across
Australia, with sales and technical personnel travelling great distances to
monitor its customers’ inventory levels, track product use rates and review
plant performance.
While this service component of chemical supply remains critical, the
requirement for the staff to be physically present for this type of assessment
limits the number of times it is possible to inspect customers’ operations,
especially sites which are very remote. BASF also recognises the safety benefits
of reducing staff driving/travel time and the value of being able to respond to
customer issues faster. Understanding this reality, the Mining Solutions team
considered how to offer an improved service model to customers.
Working with engineering business partner DELCAD, BASF’s Mining
Solutions team has begun to implement telemetry operating systems as a
technical engineering solution to this challenge. Telemetry operating
systems enable remote monitoring of real-time data that is accessible from
anywhere, at any time.
So how does it work? Telemetry unit hardware is installed at the
customer site, permanently or temporarily, being adaptable to BASF
supplied equipment such as powder and liquid product storage tanks,
dosing pump skids and Alcotech ® units. So this service is applicable to both
heap leach/SX and flotation (the other major processing article this month).
The hardware uses the existing equipment power supply and links to
digital or analogue instrument signals that feed measured data to a web-
based monitoring facility (Eagle.IO). The Eagle.IO web interface is
compatible with both PCs and mobile devices facilitating ease of access for
management. The web-based dashboard can be configured to show as little
or as much information as the inputs and telemetry units provide plus
additional options of site location (map and satellite views), photos of the
site equipment, historic charting, alarm history, individual level signals or
operational status (in real time). IM
For further information on the ALTA papers discussed go to
www.altamet.com.au
Nickel-Cobalt-Copper
Uranium-REE-Li
and Gold-PM
Conference & Exhibition
and ISR Symposium
19-26 May, Perth, Australia
23 rd Annual
Metallurgical Event
90 papers
25 countries
Call for Papers
Forums and Panels
Hydromet Processing of
Copper, Nickel and Cobalt
Sulphides
Lithium Processing
Refractory and Complex
Gold Ores
www.altamet.com.au