New Procedure for Recovering Nickel and Cobalt from Western Laterites. Economic Feasibility

摘要

Bureau of Mines roast-leach laterite processing technology was studied on a pilot plant scale. Data were scaled-up and incorporated into an economic feasibility study for a 5,000-ton-per-day grassroots processing facility. Estimated capital cost ( + or - 30 pct) for a mine and plant is $367 million with an estimated $103 million per year operating cost. The study indicated that low-grade domestic laterite may be processed with marginal profitability.