Improved recoveries and environmental outcomes from complex ores utilising EcoTechnology

摘要

EcoTechnology refers to a series of potential metallurgical processes for complex ores, concentrates, tailings and slags that are all based on an initial chlorination step at low to moderate temperatures probably in a fluid bed chlorinator (FBC). Examples of the research and development (R&D) results are provided in this paper for a high grade Au/Sb “Leach Tailings (EcoGold~R Process), a very refractory sulphide Au concentrate, a refractory gold calcine tailings, a Cu/Au tailings (EcoCopper~R Process), bulk polymetallic sulphide concentrates and polymetallic sulphide/oxide complex ores (EcoZinc~R Process and EcoLead~R Process).R&D on over thirty different ore types has been conducted at a bench scale as discussed. Latterly a dedicated pilot plant was designed and constructed by EcoTech Mining Pty Ltd (EML) and several of the different feed stock results have been confirmed by pilot plant testing. It is planned to scale up to a commercial demonstration plant.