XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 1271
developed and technoeconomic evaluations conducted to
inform decisions for development and implementation of
possible critical mineral production processes.
To address these challenges, Rio Tinto partnering with
key universities (e.g., Missouri University of Science &
Technology, University of Arizona, Arizona State University,
and University of Nevada—Reno, Colorado School of
Mines), national laboratories (e.g., Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and
Sandia National Laboratories), industry entities (e.g.,
Arcadis, SGS, and ALS), and federal partners and consor-
tiums (e.g., U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department
of Defense, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the DOE
Critical Mineral Innovation Hub) to demonstrate and
implement analytical techniques to precisely and accurately
quantify and understand the occurrence and deportment of
critical minerals across Rio Tinto’s North American Copper
assets, namely Kennecott Utah Copper and Resolution
Copper, located in Utah and Arizona, respectively. In doing
so, Rio Tinto is developing a blueprint for full-value cop-
per mining, providing not only copper but also key critical
minerals for energy, defense, and economic security of the
United States as further discussed below.
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CRITICAL
MINERAL RECOVERY PROCESSES
Detailed characterization of occurrence and deportment of
critical minerals have provided new insights into the poten-
tial opportunity for production of key co-products that
are necessary for enabling U.S. national energy, security,
and economic missions. Figure 3 summarizes numerous
potential opportunities and general timeline for develop-
ment of new processes for recovery and production of criti-
cal and strategic minerals. Through current and emerging
partnerships, we are working to establish an ecosystem of
technology developers, technology providers, and industry
partners that can work with us to expeditiously support the
technoeconomic decision process and development of new
production circuits to transform current waste streams into
new materials the nation needs.
As discussed in the following sections, Rio Tinto has
successfully used this approach to become one of only two
domestic producers of tellurium and has developed a circuit
for rhenium production. Additionally, through extensive
testing several new technologies and evaluation of potential
partners, Rio Tinto is aggressively pursuing the develop-
ment of processes for production of platinum group met-
als, bismuth, indium, germanium, gallium, nickel, cobalt,
arsenic, and the rare earth elements.
Tellurium
Copper smelting creates an anode-slime waste material that
is rich in other metals like silver, gold, selenium, and tel-
lurium (Te). Globally, more than 90% of Te is produced as
a by-product of copper smelting and refining. Kennecott
Utah Copper is one of two primary copper smelters
remaining in the United States, providing a key national
asset to the recovery and production of critical minerals.
As early as 1990, our team tested the idea of extracting
these metals and minerals from the slimes generated by
Figure 3. Rio Tinto development of critical minerals
developed and technoeconomic evaluations conducted to
inform decisions for development and implementation of
possible critical mineral production processes.
To address these challenges, Rio Tinto partnering with
key universities (e.g., Missouri University of Science &
Technology, University of Arizona, Arizona State University,
and University of Nevada—Reno, Colorado School of
Mines), national laboratories (e.g., Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and
Sandia National Laboratories), industry entities (e.g.,
Arcadis, SGS, and ALS), and federal partners and consor-
tiums (e.g., U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department
of Defense, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the DOE
Critical Mineral Innovation Hub) to demonstrate and
implement analytical techniques to precisely and accurately
quantify and understand the occurrence and deportment of
critical minerals across Rio Tinto’s North American Copper
assets, namely Kennecott Utah Copper and Resolution
Copper, located in Utah and Arizona, respectively. In doing
so, Rio Tinto is developing a blueprint for full-value cop-
per mining, providing not only copper but also key critical
minerals for energy, defense, and economic security of the
United States as further discussed below.
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CRITICAL
MINERAL RECOVERY PROCESSES
Detailed characterization of occurrence and deportment of
critical minerals have provided new insights into the poten-
tial opportunity for production of key co-products that
are necessary for enabling U.S. national energy, security,
and economic missions. Figure 3 summarizes numerous
potential opportunities and general timeline for develop-
ment of new processes for recovery and production of criti-
cal and strategic minerals. Through current and emerging
partnerships, we are working to establish an ecosystem of
technology developers, technology providers, and industry
partners that can work with us to expeditiously support the
technoeconomic decision process and development of new
production circuits to transform current waste streams into
new materials the nation needs.
As discussed in the following sections, Rio Tinto has
successfully used this approach to become one of only two
domestic producers of tellurium and has developed a circuit
for rhenium production. Additionally, through extensive
testing several new technologies and evaluation of potential
partners, Rio Tinto is aggressively pursuing the develop-
ment of processes for production of platinum group met-
als, bismuth, indium, germanium, gallium, nickel, cobalt,
arsenic, and the rare earth elements.
Tellurium
Copper smelting creates an anode-slime waste material that
is rich in other metals like silver, gold, selenium, and tel-
lurium (Te). Globally, more than 90% of Te is produced as
a by-product of copper smelting and refining. Kennecott
Utah Copper is one of two primary copper smelters
remaining in the United States, providing a key national
asset to the recovery and production of critical minerals.
As early as 1990, our team tested the idea of extracting
these metals and minerals from the slimes generated by
Figure 3. Rio Tinto development of critical minerals