HEAP LEACHING
SandLix is part of Anglo’ s FutureSmart Mining™ program and has been specifically developed to economically treat low-grade, complex ores, while being far less energy and water intensive than conventional processes, such as flotation. SandLix is conceptually simple and has been demonstrated at pilot scale, proving to deliver equal or better recovery rates than flotation on primary ore – more than 85 % within 250 days – the company says.
The technology reimagines the heap leach process by engineering the particle size of the ore to generate a highly permeable‘ sand’ for heap leaching. Fines are removed from the ore to increase the permeability of the remaining heap and are treated in a separate small, integrated flotation process, which both increases recovery and optimises leach reagent consumption. What then remains is a heap made up of sand grain-sized particles through which the chemicals can easily flow, enabling the chemical conditions and temperatures in these permeable sand heaps to be more precisely controlled to recover copper from the ore.
The key to unlocking high recoveries lies in the configuration and control of the particle size, temperature and chemistry in highly permeable heaps, which are adapted specifically for each ore, Anglo American
adds. Precise control of these optimised heaps generates conditions for natural biooxidising microbes to thrive and increase the temperature of the heap to where high recovery rates of copper can be achieved from even low-grade, complex primary copper ores dominated by chalcopyrite.
Through this unique process of heap leaching, SandLix has the potential to reduce the cut-off grade of copper processes by up to 20 %, Anglo American claims, and increase resource utilisation by economically processing low-grade ores, while reducing water and energy intensity and the quantity of wet tailings.
Glycine leaching cooperation
Draslovka a. s, and its glycine leaching technology – which can extract metals in a more environmentally friendly, safer and cost-effective way than traditional processes – look like heading to Uzebekistan after the company agreed to a collaboration with the JSC Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex( AGMK), a leading industrial enterprise and a key player in the country’ s mining and metal industry.
In May, representatives from Draslovka visited AGMK’ s headquarters in Almalyk to present the company’ s latest advancements in sustainable mining chemistry and discuss opportunities for cooperation.
During the meeting, Draslovka shared a comprehensive overview of its mining solutions, with discussions centred on the potential application of its patented Glycine Leaching Technology( GLT) at AGMK’ s facilities, resulting in an agreement to initiate cooperation.
Draslovka’ s GLT leaches metals( including gold, copper, nickel and cobalt) more sustainably and economically, the company says.
Among the GLT portfolio is GlyCat, the company’ s gold-focused leaching solution.
GlyCat, Draslovka says, will enable a major shift for the mining industry’ s sustainability profile by offering substantive replacement of cyanide used in processing of gold ores with a non-toxic, food-grade reagent that is recyclable. Depending on the type of ore, using GlyCat in existing leaching circuits allows for a 20 % to 80 % reduction in cyanide usage while reducing or entirely eliminating cyanide detoxification requirements.
In select ores, the process also results in higher recoveries, according to the company.
In 2024, Barrick Gold and Draslovka started the commercial use of GlyCat at the Buylanhulu operation in Tanzania.
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