Optimization of ROM Sulfide Leaching at Anglo American Chile Los Bronces Division |
| Journal |
Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 20 - 21) |
| Volume |
Biohydrometallurgy: From the Single Cell to the Environment |
| Edited by |
Axel Schippers, Wolfgang Sand, Franz Glombitza and Sabine Willscher |
| Pages |
21-25 |
| DOI |
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.20-21.21 |
| Online since |
July, 2007 |
| Authors |
Egidio Saldívar,
Gabriel Zárate
|
| Keywords |
Bioleaching, Chalcocite, Dump Leaching, Molecular Characterization |
| Abstract |
Los Bronces has two ROM dump leach operations called Leach I and Leach II.
Leach I was commissioned in 1998 and currently produces 12,700 ton per year. The copper
mineralization in these dumps is largely sulfides, namely 60% chalcocite/covellite, 30%
chalcopyrite and the balance is oxides. The Leach II plant, commissioned in early 2002, was
built to treat around 700 million ton of marginal ore having 0.45% total copper. The copper
mineralogy of this material is estimated to be 70% chalcopyrite, 20% chalcocite/covellite and
the balance oxides. Current copper production is 33,700 ton per year.
Early in 2004 it was decided to conduct a complete column test work program, aimed at
reducing power, acid and lime consumption at the Leach II plant. The results of this work,
partially reported at IBS 2005, have been successfully applied to the commercial operation
since the end of 2005. As a consequence, the projected reduction in operating costs for 2006
of US$ 5.5 million was accomplished.
The main results of the column test work program, the modifications implemented together
with the results obtained at the operation, including a molecular characterization of the
microbial population, are discussed in this paper. |
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