Amira

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#FutureProcessing

P420 Series – Gold Processing Technology

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Since the 1980s, the Gold Technology Group has run the Amira P420 series of Gold Processing Technology Projects.  

Initially, the projects were laboratory based and focused on understanding the fundamentals of leach and adsorption circuits. This knowledge was then applied practically in studies designed to optimise circuit performance.

The early 2000s saw research in the gravity recovery using the expertise of Andre Laplante. This led to the development of a large database of ore characterisation and gravity survey results.

Recently SIMCIL (CIP/CIL simulation models), the leach and adsorption model, has been paired with the gravity model to provide insight into overall plant recoveries when parameters such as grind size (liberation), classification and gravity or leach recoveries are varied.

The group, now at Curtin University, has also extensively investigated processing of difficult ores, alternative lixiviants, and gangue rejection and has developed partnerships over the years with Gekko Systems, CODES, CSIRO, CRC ORE, ARC Centre for Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals and various other academic and industry-based entities.

In the current iteration, P420G, focuses on site assessments, benchmarking,  technology transfer and training opportunities for gold industry professionals. In addition to ongoing model development, the research activities in the current project include leaching of ultrafine ground concentrates, evaluating the reasons for unleached gold, and the use of sensors for data collection and application, with an emphasis on knowledge, tools and equipment required to design and operate the gold plant of the future.

As the P420G project crosses its half-way mark discussions are commencing on the research focus for the next phase of this program. If you would like to find out more or get involved shaping the next iteration please contact Anil Subramanya.

Changing the future of mining

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Amira Global member Oz Minerals is embracing the power of collaboration through its newly launched Think & Act Differently (TAD) opportunity incubator.  The TAD process aims to uncover opportunities to apply technology in unique ways that result in new, low-impact ways to mine and process minerals.

OZ Minerals Transformation Technologist Brett Triffett said that a major aspiration of the company is to produce products with the smallest environmental footprint possible and provide value to stakeholders.  With this in mind the first TAD incubator challenge, Ingenious Extraction was launched on February 16 and aims to discover new ways to extract metals like copper, gold, silver and cobalt from concentrates. 

The challenge runs for 8 weeks until April 9 and OZ Minerals would like to extend an invitation to other Amira members to join the challenge and share their ideas.   Once the challenge closes selected teams will be invited to collaborate and develop ideas further.

You can find out more about the challenge by watching the introductory video below and on the Oz Minerals website.

P420 Gold Processing Technology – Online Course

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a group of people sitting around a table with a projecting screen in the background

Gold Processing Technology – Fundamentals and Applications of Gold Ore Processing is an online course which is designed to provide attendees with an understanding of the fundamentals and practical applications involved in gold processing with a particular emphasis on plant optimisation.

This course is designed to provide practising metallurgists with knowledge and tools to assist in operation and optimisation of gold processing circuits. Topics covered will include:

  • mineralogy
  • gravity recovery
  • Flotation
  • cyanide leaching
  • CIP operations
  • carbon management elution
  • Electrowinning
  • Smelting
  • refractory ore treatments

Amira is proud to support these upcoming courses led by Dr Teresa McGrath and Bill Staunton from the Gold Processing Group at Curtin University.

Sessions will be held every Monday for 10 weeks starting on Monday 15 March 2021. Each session will run for 45‐90 minutes with a total of 11 hours over the 10 weeks, with delivery time for each session optimised for our North/South American and African sponsors. Registration details can be found on the P420G website newsletter page.

Registration

Please use your company email to register for a login to the website and for the webinars.

To find out if your company sponsors P420G or for information regarding Amira Global Membership, please contact Sara Sulway, GM Member Engagement.

For more information regarding the course please contact Teresa McGrath or Bill Staunton.

Amira Global signs MOU with NORCAT

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Amira Global is excited to announce Canadian technology and innovation centre NORCAT will be joining our CoLabs program following the signing of an MOU this week.

Amira CEO Dr Jacqui Coombes said NORCAT’s involvement in the CoLabs program further enables companies to progress products and services from the research phase to market, crossing the commercialisation valley of death in the process.

NORCAT is the global one-stop-shop for mining technology and innovation, offering mining and mining supply companies the opportunity to develop, test, and showcase products in a specially designed, underground operational mine in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

Founded in 1955, NORCAT is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to developing programs, services, and resources that provide clients with the skills, competencies, and confidence to have meaningful and sustainable careers.

To commercialise a product, companies need access to infrastructure to develop, test, prototype and showcase that product. Amira’s Co-Labs program is bringing together a global network and community of testing and demonstration facilities to assist in the commercialisation process.

With the signing of the MOU, Amira Global Members can now access the NORCAT Underground Centre, which is the best place for emerging technologies that are poised to transform the mining industry.

NORCAT CEO Don Duval said the organisation created its “active underground laboratory” to connect technology companies with buyers in the mining sector.

He said NORCAT has created a vibrant mining technology ecosystem like no other in the world and was excited to partner with Amira Global to further assist tech companies in bringing their products and services to the global mining community.

The Amira CoLabs program is designed to:

  • Accelerate collaboration across the ecosystem
  • Develop pathways for Amira projects within the Futures Programs to enable accelerated translation and implementation of R&D outcomes
  • Develop and strengthen pathways for scaling and commercialisation of R&D outcomes
  • De-risk R&D outcomes ahead of on-site deployment.

For more information on the MOU or the CoLabs program, please contact Anil Subramanya.

New chair for ‘oldest’ project!

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Amira Global is pleased to announce Professor Neville Plint will be taking on the role of Chair of the Amira Global P9 Research Program. Prof Plint is the Director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) at the University of Queensland, and a well-known industry leader. With his extensive experience in the sector, Prof Plint will continue to facilitate global collaboration, networks and industry engagement.

Amira Global’s P9 is the world’s largest university-based mineral processing research programme, spanning an amazing 50 years. It has re-shaped the practice of designing and optimising mineral processing plants, using mathematical modelling and computer simulation.

The project began in 1962 with a collaboration between the University of Queensland and thirteen Australian mining companies. The project — The Optimisation of Mineral Processes by Modelling and Simulation – was the ninth Amira Global project. P9. Over the years, the project has been extended 16 times, in three-to-four-year cycles.

We want to hear from you

Amira Global is holding a special roundtable discussion on December 9, 2020 about P9.

  • 05:00 – 07:00 MST
  • 09:00 – 11:00 CLT, BRT
  • 13:00 – 15:00 BST
  • 20:00 – 22:00 AWST
  • 23:00 – 02:00 AEDT

The workshop will include:

  • Collecting stories and information from participants to collate the history of P9
  • An overview of the benefits and opportunities arising from the most recent P9 project
  • A discussion on the shaping of the next iteration.

Please note this is a Member only event

For information on becoming a Member please contact our GM Member Engagement Sara Sulway

Register Here