IMARC INTELLIGENCE
Technofast offers cost-crushing mine bolting technologies , including for large primary gyratories
required to advance technological development , according to Hatch .
“ It is vital that these stakeholders are highly engaged in the tailings reduction challenge in order to achieve the greatest cut through and introduce real change and advancement in the reduction of tailings , which will be needed to support the increase in mining activity while meeting emissions reduction targets ,” added Kwak .
Innovation at IMARC
Paul Moore looks at some of those METS companies based in Australia or with an Australian growth focus that will be at the forthcoming IMARC show in Sydney
One of the most challenging aspects of transformation is being able to supply end to end solutions . Hatch , an IMARC 2022 Gold Sponsor , is well known for project implementation but its capabilities span from inception to precision execution , “ building capacity at every stage and focusing on the underlying issues , not the symptoms .” The company also says that it looks to simplify solutions for mining “ by combining a deep , fundamental understanding of mining with practical redeployment of established technologies from other industries .”
Hatch told IM it is passionately committed to the pursuit of a better world through positive change . “ As a global engineering , project management , and professional services firm for the metals , energy , and infrastructure sectors , our corporate roots extend more than a hundred years . Our exceptional , diverse teams combine vast engineering and business knowledge , working in partnership with our clients to develop market strategies , manage and optimise production , develop innovative technologies , and design and deliver complex capital projects .”
A new report from Hatch , estimates Australia ’ s mining waste can be reduced by 30 % using already available technologies . One of the biggest challenges currently facing the mining industry is managing the volume of tailings generated as minerals mining ramps up to meet the demands of the transition to renewable energy .
Undertaking an in-depth analysis to identify the technologies required to reduce or eliminate tailings of six key commodities ( copper , gold , nickel , iron ore , coal and bauxite ), Hatch investigated how tailings production would be impacted by applying the key technologies ‘ themes ’: advanced geometallurgy , ore sorting , advanced sensing and particle sorting , in-situ extraction , and preferential fracturing .
The company ’ s analysis revealed that technologies available today could reduce tailings by 20-30 %, also identifying that , in the next 10-20 years , the integration of these technologies in future projects or expansions could provide an opportunity to reduce tailings by more than 50 %.
Managing Director of Australia and Asia at Hatch , Jan Kwak , says the challenge of reducing tailings is a complex effort that is best solved utilising the innovative capacity of the entire mining supply chain .
“ A balanced spread of researchers , METS ( mining equipment , technology and services ) companies , and operators in the mining industry are actively commercialising technologies ,” he said . “ Half ( 50 %) of stakeholders identified are METS companies , whose core business is the supply of equipment and services of these technologies , indicating commercialisation is underway . This group was also present across the technologies that our analysis has shown to have higher TRLs ( Technology Readiness Levels ).”
The TRL ranking system measures the maturity of technologies , whereby Hatch graded technologies from zero ( idea stage ) to nine ( commercial application ).
For in-situ mining and preferential fracturing technology themes , there is a larger representation of research organisations and partnerships . This suggests collaboration is
Integrated gold processing solutions
Gekko Systems , IMARC Mobile App sponsor , provides fully integrated mineral processing systems to companies around the world , with offices in South Africa , Brazil , Canada , and Australia . Over the past 26 years , Gekko has developed strong capabilities in the design , manufacturing , installation and commissioning of energy efficient mineral processing equipment and complete plants for a wide range of minerals including gold , silver and polymetallics . Gekko ’ s range of solutions offer value for remote and environmentally sensitive operations with high energy costs .
Gekko also designs and builds modular plants for a given mine operation with specific requirements . Gekko ’ s innovative core technologies and in-house process design expertise will produce an agile , effective modular plant .
Further offerings include on-site performance consulting services for customers looking to optimise established process plants and achieve the highest operational performance . Gekko ’ s range of solutions offer value for remote and environmentally sensitive operations with high energy costs .
Gekko ’ s user friendly InLine Leach Reactor ( ILR ) “ offers superior recoveries in a proven , high efficiency , safe and highly secure system .” The ILR ’ s innovative design and unparalleled flexibility in gold and silver leaching chemistry is providing cost and production benefits to operations across more than 40 countries across the globe . The ILR is available as a completely automated batch model for processing high grade gravity gold concentrates . Uniquely , the unit can also be configured as a continuous model for treating high-throughput gold , silver and complex sulphide concentrates from InLine Pressure Jigs and flotation circuits .
The InLine Pressure Jig ( IPJ ) design delivers 20 % less power and consumes only 10 % of water required by traditional jigs . “ Furthermore , the low separating velocity within the unit maximises recovery of fine mineral particles . Saving water and reducing energy helps mine operations lower
6 International Mining | OCTOBER 2022