XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 329
• Copper concentration also needs to be increased as
slurry density increases.
• Ammonia concentration also requires adjustment
to maximise metals extractions as slurry density
increases.
• Solution cooling appears to be required as slurry den-
sities increase to 10%. Higher slurry densities will
require even more aggressive temperature control.
• Reaction rates increase with higher temperatures, but
cobalt salt solubility decreases at higher temperature
which leads to a conclusion that there is an optimum
temperature range for the Cuprion Sulfate leach pro-
cess, likely 30–35°C.
• It is also possible that an optimum solids density for
leaching (weight %solids) may be lower than com-
mon for typical mineral leaching due to the heat
generation.
PLANNED NEXT STEPS
The next steps in our testing, planned for mid-2024, are
designed to produce enough proposed products to allow
for value evaluation compared to products in commercial
markets. Proposed products may include cobalt hydroxide,
cobalt sulfate, nickel metal, nickel sulfate. copper metal,
manganese carbonate and Rare Earth precipitates. After
these products are produced the residue will be analyzed
and assessed for other potential products such as ferro-
manganese, ferro-silicon and engineered soil.
Testing will begin by operating a series of Cuprion
Sulfate Leaches at conditions based on optimised results
to date. These leaches will be conducted in “locked cycle”
wherein some pregnant solution and precipitated manga-
nese oxide solids from each test will advance to the feed
of the next leach tests to simulate the solution and solids
recycles expected in the full-scale plant.
• The locked cycle testing will include preliminary
investigations of subsequent steps in the process
including:
• Manganese oxidation and precipitation and the
effect of manganese oxide recycling on leaching and
the resultant leach residue and leach liquor.
• The recovery of nickel, copper, and cobalt products
As of Q1 2024, an evaluation of options for final products
is still underway, and includes options such as:
• Electro-won Nickel or Nickel Sulfate
• Electro-winning or Cementation to produce copper
metal.
• Precipitation of cobalt hydroxide, cobalt sulfide, or
cobalt sulfate
• Precipitation of a mixed hydroxide (Cobalt and
Nickel) product
• Production of a manganese carbonate product by
froth flotation
• Acid leaching tests on the residue from the manga-
nese carbonate flotation tailing
– Evaluate methods for REE recovery from the leach
solution (e.g., Ion exchange)
– Evaluate methods to recover additional cobalt,
copper, nickel, and manganese that leach into the
acid leach solution.
These tests will be useful in designing a future pilot plant
as well as allow estimation of the value of potential prod-
ucts and revenues for economic evaluation of the Cuprion
Sulfate approach. These tests will be conducted in support
of Preliminary Feasibility Study development activities
as part of Moana Minerals’ 2024 program of exploration
work, with an expectation that results will be available for
reporting as of the 2024 IMPC conference.
REFERENCES
Jiang, K., Feng, L., Jiang, W. and Jiang X. 2016. Study on
the Reductive Leaching of the Seabed Co-Mn polyme-
tallic ore with CO and Ammonia. Proceedings of ALTA
2016 Nickel-Cobalt-Copper Sessions.
Dames &Moore and EIC Corporation 1977. Description of
Manganese Nodule Processing Activities for Environmental
Studies. Volumes I &III of report prepared for United
States Department of Commerce, NOAA, Office of
Marine Minerals Rockville, Maryland.
Dreisinger, D., Verbaan, N., and Canizares, M. 2022 The
Demonstration of the Cuprion Process for Recovery
of nickel, Cobalt, Copper, and Manganese from
Seabed nodules. Proceedings of the 61st Conference of
Metallurgists, COM 2022: 753–772.
• Copper concentration also needs to be increased as
slurry density increases.
• Ammonia concentration also requires adjustment
to maximise metals extractions as slurry density
increases.
• Solution cooling appears to be required as slurry den-
sities increase to 10%. Higher slurry densities will
require even more aggressive temperature control.
• Reaction rates increase with higher temperatures, but
cobalt salt solubility decreases at higher temperature
which leads to a conclusion that there is an optimum
temperature range for the Cuprion Sulfate leach pro-
cess, likely 30–35°C.
• It is also possible that an optimum solids density for
leaching (weight %solids) may be lower than com-
mon for typical mineral leaching due to the heat
generation.
PLANNED NEXT STEPS
The next steps in our testing, planned for mid-2024, are
designed to produce enough proposed products to allow
for value evaluation compared to products in commercial
markets. Proposed products may include cobalt hydroxide,
cobalt sulfate, nickel metal, nickel sulfate. copper metal,
manganese carbonate and Rare Earth precipitates. After
these products are produced the residue will be analyzed
and assessed for other potential products such as ferro-
manganese, ferro-silicon and engineered soil.
Testing will begin by operating a series of Cuprion
Sulfate Leaches at conditions based on optimised results
to date. These leaches will be conducted in “locked cycle”
wherein some pregnant solution and precipitated manga-
nese oxide solids from each test will advance to the feed
of the next leach tests to simulate the solution and solids
recycles expected in the full-scale plant.
• The locked cycle testing will include preliminary
investigations of subsequent steps in the process
including:
• Manganese oxidation and precipitation and the
effect of manganese oxide recycling on leaching and
the resultant leach residue and leach liquor.
• The recovery of nickel, copper, and cobalt products
As of Q1 2024, an evaluation of options for final products
is still underway, and includes options such as:
• Electro-won Nickel or Nickel Sulfate
• Electro-winning or Cementation to produce copper
metal.
• Precipitation of cobalt hydroxide, cobalt sulfide, or
cobalt sulfate
• Precipitation of a mixed hydroxide (Cobalt and
Nickel) product
• Production of a manganese carbonate product by
froth flotation
• Acid leaching tests on the residue from the manga-
nese carbonate flotation tailing
– Evaluate methods for REE recovery from the leach
solution (e.g., Ion exchange)
– Evaluate methods to recover additional cobalt,
copper, nickel, and manganese that leach into the
acid leach solution.
These tests will be useful in designing a future pilot plant
as well as allow estimation of the value of potential prod-
ucts and revenues for economic evaluation of the Cuprion
Sulfate approach. These tests will be conducted in support
of Preliminary Feasibility Study development activities
as part of Moana Minerals’ 2024 program of exploration
work, with an expectation that results will be available for
reporting as of the 2024 IMPC conference.
REFERENCES
Jiang, K., Feng, L., Jiang, W. and Jiang X. 2016. Study on
the Reductive Leaching of the Seabed Co-Mn polyme-
tallic ore with CO and Ammonia. Proceedings of ALTA
2016 Nickel-Cobalt-Copper Sessions.
Dames &Moore and EIC Corporation 1977. Description of
Manganese Nodule Processing Activities for Environmental
Studies. Volumes I &III of report prepared for United
States Department of Commerce, NOAA, Office of
Marine Minerals Rockville, Maryland.
Dreisinger, D., Verbaan, N., and Canizares, M. 2022 The
Demonstration of the Cuprion Process for Recovery
of nickel, Cobalt, Copper, and Manganese from
Seabed nodules. Proceedings of the 61st Conference of
Metallurgists, COM 2022: 753–772.