COPPER HYDROMETALLURGY PROCESS EVOLUTION: CHANGING OPERATING PARAMETERS AND PHILOSOPHIES THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF GIRILAMBONE COPPER COMPANY'S SOLVENT EXTRACTION CIRCUIT

摘要

Ore mineralogy has a major influence on the quality of the leach solution that is presented to a solvent extraction plant, and many operations see a change in the pregnant leach solution quality as the ore mineralogy changes over the project life. This paper uses as an example the course of the solvent extraction circuit developments at Girilambone Copper Company in illustrating how changes in pregnant leach solution quality can be managed through appropriate selection of solvent extraction circuit operating conditions.