Compact columns
Column flotation with a proprietary geometry sized to the particle size and rheology of the feed material.
A process architecture in four layers.
Green Mining combines compact-column flotation, liberation of occluded metals, selective chemistry and real-time process control. Each project's configuration starts from the characterization of the material.
Overview
The flow, from material to concentrate.
Material enters the system, goes through liberation of occluded metals, compact-column flotation and the chemical stage, and leaves as metal concentrate. Each stage is configured for the material at hand.
Architecture · 4 layers
IN
Tailings or low-grade ore
dam · stockpile · mine
01
Liberation of occluded metals
occluded metal → exposed
02
Compact-column flotation
proprietary geometry
03
Selective chemistry · resins
selected per material
04
Process control
real-time adjustment
OUT
Metal concentrate
for sale
The four layers
What each stage does.
Liberation of occluded metals
Part of the metal may be locked inside mineral particles. This stage exposes that metal before flotation, when the mineralogy indicates occlusion.
Selective chemistry
Resins and catalysts developed over more than a decade, selected according to the material and the element of interest. On the gold route, the process does not use cyanide.
Process control
Algorithmic control of dosing, residence time and aeration, in use since 2012, adjusting the process to variations in the material.
Configuration per asset
One architecture, configured for each material.
Every material has its own characteristics. Route configuration mainly considers:
- Mineralogy: the form in which the metal is present (sulfide, oxide, native) and the associated minerals.
- Degree of oxidation, especially relevant in older tailings.
- Particle size and rheology of the material.
- Chemical history: the reagents used in the original processing.
- Elements of interest and contaminants, which define the route and the concentrate constraints.
That is why Green Mining does not present results before characterization: a project's figures apply to that material under those conditions.
External references
Validations and intellectual property, with stated scope.
University of British Columbia
Academic partnership since 2012, with participation in the field validation carried out at a gold operation in South America. The scope of the work is described in the technical documentation.
Laboratory audit
Independent laboratory audit, reference certificate GO2511449. Scope, date and audited samples are set out in the technical documentation.
Patent granted
Patent granted on the system. Number, jurisdiction and coverage are provided in the technical documentation.
Technical documentation
Technical material for qualified parties.
Methodology, test results in context and the scope of external references are compiled in technical material, made available to qualified parties on request.