Sustainability & Upgrades
As mine head grades decline and orebodies become more complex, traditional mineral processing techniques and flowsheets to achieve saleable concentrate become more difficult to design and construct. Mines with lower quality concentrates or concentrates with penalty elements are particular under threat. The economics of these operations are far more susceptible to metal price, concentrate treatment terms and the availability of other, cleaner concentrates. Additional value may be realised for these orebodies through improved recovery by producing a low grade middling concentrate for further processing, in conjunction with a saleable concentrate.
It is important for businesses that intend to engage in the reprocessing of tailings dumps to determine the economic viability of their mineral assets. In order to estimate Mineral Resources for a tailings dump a comprehensive technical study must be undertaken to assess the quantity and quality of the tailings material and demonstrate reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction as required