OPERATION FOCUS
year with holes up to 600 m long, with core
analysis results used to formulate the geological
and block models.
RMCC concentrator
The concentrator key facilities are shown in the
attached table. The Crushing Section 2 and 3
feed the “Main Building” 2 and 3 areas
respectively for grinding, flotation, gravity
separation and dewatering of concentrates. The
parallel crushing lines use primary, secondary
and tertiary crushers to handle the four principal
ore types: heavy fraction Tishinsky ore, Dolinny
ore, and RSM Cu ore. The crushers are largely
Russian gyratory and cone crusher models from
Uralmash including KKD and KCD models as well
as a Metso Nordberg HP200. The milling sections
include Russian Uralmash primary, secondary
and regrind rod and ball mills of various models
including the MSP. The Main Building 2 flotation
circuit includes Russian RIVS 16 and 8.5 m 3
pneumatic mechanical flotation cells (RIF) and
3.2 m 3 mechanical flotation cells (FM) for zinc
flotation as well as Outotec TankCells in the Cu-
Pb circuit. The plant also uses Russian SKO
gravity shaking tables and Knelson (FLSmidth)
KC VD-20 and ХD-30 centrifugal gravity
concentrators. It also uses Russian ceramic disc
filters for Pb
concentrate. Main
Building 3 uses
Russian RIVS 16 m 3
pneumatic mechanical
flotation cells (RIF),
and 6.3 and 3.2 m 3
pneumatic mechanical
flotation cells (FM) as
well as Wemco 14.2
m 3 and 4.2 m 3
flotation cells, SKO
shaking tables and
Knelson KC VD-20 and
ХD-30 concentrators
then a series of
different filters
depending on the product including a Latham
М2000 for Cu concentrate, Russian filters for zinc
concentrate and Russian or Outotec Larox
models for gold and lead concentrate.
RMC smelter
The Ridder Metallurgical Complex produces
electrolytic zinc metal using virtually the same
hydrometallurgical technology as the Ust-
Kamenogorsk Metallurgical Complex, ie standard
fluid-bed roasting/two-stage leaching with spent
electrolyte followed by hydrolytic and
cementation solution purification/electrowinning
and zinc resmelting. There are two types of raw
material processed at Ridder Metallurgical
Complex - sulphidic and oxidised. RMCC and third
party sulphidic ore concentrates are processed at
the Ridder metallurgical facilities. The oxidised
raw material is Shaimerden ore. Ore and zinc
residues are processed in Waelz kilns.
The plant produces high grade zinc metal and
Zn-Al alloys. Sulphuric acid produced in Ridder
from sulphur dioxide is sold to third party
consumers. In 2018 the plant produced 112,700 t
of zinc metal and alloys, well above the original
plant design capacity of 105,000 t. In 2012 the
company also started up a new pilot atmospheric
leaching plant that can process more complex
ores. Other products aside from zinc and
sulphuric acid include Pb cake, Cu cake and Cd
metal as well as zinc sulphate and Waelz slag. IM
FEBRUARY 2020 | International Mining