XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 1041
Process Commissioning of New Grinding Line
The site also utilized the fine-tuned flowsheet to forecast the
value chain’s response by integrating a new grinding line
into the existing circuit. This addition was necessitated by
the heightened hardness of the ore body. The flow sheet pre-
diction retained the same SAG mill, Ball Mill, and screen
model, given the absence of process data for calibrating the
new grinding line. Preliminary simulations at the target
grind size indicate a notable upswing in plant throughput,
a marginal incease in specific energy and enhancements in
overall metal production (Figure 10).
The simulation was conducted at a target grind size
of 204µm, both with the new production line activated
and deactivated. Table 2 presents a comparative analy-
sis illustrating the additional benefits the plant can attain
by incorporating the new SAG and Ball mill line (line
4). The simulation results indicate a notable improve-
ment in plant throughput, rising from 6980 t/h to 8740
t/h. There was a marginal uplift of 3% in specific energy
while water consumption rate per tonne of ore processed
remained unchanged as percent solids in the flotation cir-
cuit was always maintained at 32%. That means the water
consumption per day increased by 25.3% equivalent to the
increase in throughput. The operation has limitations in
water resources during dry seasons that are considered in
month by months throughput forecast.
CONCLUSION
Orica Digital Solutions’ technical services have success-
fully created a comprehensive value chain flow sheet for a
87.0
88.0
89.0
90.0
91.0
92.0
GEOMET Model IES Model
Figure 8. Comparison IES practiced Cu recovery against the GEOMET model when grinding process was not optimised
87.0
88.0
89.0
90.0
91.0
92.0
GEOMET Model IES Model
Figure 9. Comparison IES practiced Cu recovery against the GEOMET model when grinding process was optimised
Process Commissioning of New Grinding Line
The site also utilized the fine-tuned flowsheet to forecast the
value chain’s response by integrating a new grinding line
into the existing circuit. This addition was necessitated by
the heightened hardness of the ore body. The flow sheet pre-
diction retained the same SAG mill, Ball Mill, and screen
model, given the absence of process data for calibrating the
new grinding line. Preliminary simulations at the target
grind size indicate a notable upswing in plant throughput,
a marginal incease in specific energy and enhancements in
overall metal production (Figure 10).
The simulation was conducted at a target grind size
of 204µm, both with the new production line activated
and deactivated. Table 2 presents a comparative analy-
sis illustrating the additional benefits the plant can attain
by incorporating the new SAG and Ball mill line (line
4). The simulation results indicate a notable improve-
ment in plant throughput, rising from 6980 t/h to 8740
t/h. There was a marginal uplift of 3% in specific energy
while water consumption rate per tonne of ore processed
remained unchanged as percent solids in the flotation cir-
cuit was always maintained at 32%. That means the water
consumption per day increased by 25.3% equivalent to the
increase in throughput. The operation has limitations in
water resources during dry seasons that are considered in
month by months throughput forecast.
CONCLUSION
Orica Digital Solutions’ technical services have success-
fully created a comprehensive value chain flow sheet for a
87.0
88.0
89.0
90.0
91.0
92.0
GEOMET Model IES Model
Figure 8. Comparison IES practiced Cu recovery against the GEOMET model when grinding process was not optimised
87.0
88.0
89.0
90.0
91.0
92.0
GEOMET Model IES Model
Figure 9. Comparison IES practiced Cu recovery against the GEOMET model when grinding process was optimised