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Agglomeration Scale: A Method to Improve Leaching Performance

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Abstract

Ore agglomeration has been used as part of the heap leaching process for the last 40 years. However, industrial experience shows that the lack of a universal agglomeration standard has limited the benefits of this, otherwise, valuable unit process. The more complex the ore, in terms of the nature and relative abundance of fines (<74 μm), the more important that the agglomeration product satisfies some minimal requirements. This paper presents an agglomeration scale that identifies the quality standards for agglomerates and documents the resulting mechanical, physical, and hydraulic (hydrodynamic) behavior associated with each level on the agglomeration scale. The hydrodynamic properties of an agglomeration product are critical for the proper design of a leaching operation and, as shown in this paper, can be used to select the optimal pretreatment method for a given ore sample. Agglomeration as a unit process not only allows better conditioning of the hydrodynamic behavior of the ore but also creates an opportunity for optimized delivery of reagents to kick-start the leaching process which may ultimately improve the economic performance of leaching. Industrial case data is used to demonstrate the shortfalls associated with low-quality agglomeration and the benefits of improved agglomeration which range from enhanced porous structure (better percolation and drainage characteristics) to better metallurgical response (faster kinetics and higher metal recovery). Proper agglomeration has been used to render otherwise untreatable ores into valuable leaching resources.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author: Amado Guzman.

Notes

  1. The definition of fines is that of the US Soil Conservation Service and includes material ranging from slimes to clay. US Department of Agriculture, Engineering Field Manual, Chapter 4. Elementary Soil Engineering, 1990.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the opportunity to work with the mining industry for the last several years which has given us the opportunity to research and improve existing industrial practices. We thank Glencore Lomas Bayas site personnel for their technical input and insights during the data collection, analysis, and preparation of this technical paper. Also, we recognize the dedication and excellent work from our technicians (Daniel Rodriguez, Eduardo Garcia, and T.K. Olson) whose effort facilitates the collection of the data presented in this document. Further, we thank the anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments and valuable suggestions which have enhanced the quality of the manuscript.

Funding

This work has been funded via multiple projects and by Research and Development initiatives within HydroGeoSense through the last 16 years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HydroGeoSense Inc., 4926 N. Jersey Ct., Suite 100-110, Tucson, AZ, 85705, USA

    Amado Guzman, Sara Swiokla Korsikas & Toren Olson

  2. Compañía Minera Lomas Bayas, Ltd., Camino Minsal Km. 36 s/n, Antofagasta, Chile

    Yuri O. Zepeda P.

Authors
  1. Amado Guzman
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  2. Sara Swiokla Korsikas
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  3. Toren Olson
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  4. Yuri O. Zepeda P.
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Amado Guzman, Sara Swiokla Korsikas, Yuri Zepeda, and Toren Olson. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Amado Guzman, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Amado Guzman.

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Guzman, A., Korsikas, S.S., Olson, T. et al. Agglomeration Scale: A Method to Improve Leaching Performance. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 41, 501–514 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-024-00920-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-024-00920-8

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