Extraction 2018
About
Don’t miss the industry’s first collaborative global metallurgy conference focused exclusively on extractive topics, including business and economic issues. SGS is proudly on the technical program. In addition, we will be exhibiting in the trade show at booth 203.
Starts
Aug 26, 2018
Ends
Aug 29, 2018
Location
Ottawa, Canada
During Extraction 2018, SGS is proud to two technical presentations including:
Title
Steady State Flotation Circuit Modelling
Symposium
Part D: Sulfide Flotation – Flotation Process Mineralogy and Geometallurgy
Presenter
David Hatton
Abstract
A steady state flotation simulator has been developed. It is derived from fundamental flotation principles, incorporates the mechanisms of recovery by attachment and entrainment, and includes a predictive water recovery model. The simulator has been designed for Geometallurgical application and is able to simulate thousands of samples or blocks within fractions of seconds. Harnessing the simulation speed has allowed for extensive further development. This includes: automated plant survey result model fitting, lab test result fitting for ore characterisation, circuit economic optimisation from a calibrated model, production forecasting, and sensitivity analysis through Monte Carlo simulation. A brief overview of the simulation methodology and the fundamental principles used has been summarised. Case studies are presented to demonstrate the application of the simulator for circuit operation optimisation from an economic perspective, production forecasting, cell sizing, Geometallurgical flowsheet selection and plant sensitivity analysis.
Date and Room
Monday, August 27 - 2:55 pm
Quebec Room
Title
A Process Flowsheet for the Extraction of Niobium, Titanium and Scandium from Niocorp’s Elk Creek Deposit
Symposium
Part C-3: Processing of Critical Metals
Presenter
Niels Verbaan
Abstract
NioCorp is developing the niobium/scandium/titanium Elk Creek carbonatite resource deposit. The carbonatite phase contains significant niobium (0.71% Nb2O5), titanium (2.68% TiO2) and scandium (72 g/t) and is composed predominantly of calcite, dolomite and ankerite. Niobium is mostly (80%) contained in the pyrochlore and the balance in various Fe-Nb-Ti oxides, which also hosts the titanium. Scandium is distributed homogeneously throughout the ore mineral assemblage. The process flowsheet recovers separate niobium, titanium and scandium products. Scandium is extracted from whole ore hydrochloric acid leach solutions through solvent extraction, and is further refined through a re-leach and precipitation process. Scandium leach residues are treated in a sulphuric acid sulphation process to recover separate niobium and titanium precipitates. Both hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid reagents are recycled within the flowsheet. This paper will discuss key bench and pilot test results and will present a conceptual flowsheet developed by the project team for NioCorp at SGS Minerals.
Date and Room
Tuesday, August 28 - 2:55 pm
Governor General I Room