It is not news to anyone in the industry that mill feed quality is deteriorating. It is lower grade and more complex and problematic than ever before. In addition, mass underground and bulk open pit mining methods, which enable mining at lower grades, are contributing to more and more dilution.
Geometallurgical programs are being commissioned by mining companies to ‘better understand’ the ore properties and yet, it is waste that we are processing to a greater extent.
Larger and larger concentrators are being designed and operated to take advantage of economies of scale – but should we be processing all of this material? Can we be smarter about how we ‘selectively process’ if opportunities to ‘selectively mine’ are fewer and far between?
SRK is working with clients to better understand what makes up their ore… is it all worth processing the same way? Should some be segregated and processed separately or even deferred until later? Can some, if segregated, still be considered ore?
There are a number of opportunities available to counteract the degradation of grade: AG/SAG mill pebble rejection/deferment, coarse particle beneficiation and bulk/particle sorting technologies.
The real challenge is generating hard evidence of the benefit from drillcore samples alone. Consequently, SRK is working with existing operations looking to upgrade or expand through mill feed improvement methods. This presentation will outline the available opportunities and highlight the significant economic benefits that await operations that wish to ‘delete the dilution’ and improve the quality of their mill feed.
