The Calliope project: Pressure acid leaching of nickel laterite ores from New Caledonia

摘要

Nickeliferous laterite ore from New Caledonia is currently processed by smelting of saprolite to produce ferronickel, and by reduction roastign and ammonia leaching of limonite to produce nickel metal and cobalt byproducts. Calliope Metals proposes to operate a refinery near Gladstone, Queensland, Australia to recover 20 000 tonnes per year of nickel plus cobalt from limonite and limonite/saprolite transition ores imported from New Caledonia, using the pressure acid leach process. Target ore grades of 1.6percent Ni and 0.17percent Co will provide additional revenue, relative to projects treating lower grade ores near their source, to offset ore purchase and shipping costs. Prefeasibility estimates place the cash cost of operations at US