evolution of project development / piloting for technology ... · process development mineralogy /...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Evolution of Project Development /
Piloting for Technology Metals at
ANSTO Minerals
Adrian Manis and Bob Ring
ANSTO Minerals
MRIWA Tech Talk
16th November, 2017, Perth
Adrian Manis ([email protected])
![Page 2: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Presentation Outline
• ANSTO Minerals timeline/background
• Process development/innovation areas:
• Uranium
• Rare Earths
• Lithium
![Page 3: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Also: Ni, Co and V
![Page 4: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
4
Process
Development
Mineralogy /
Characterisation
Flowsheet
Development
Techno-Economic Analysis
Continuous
Piloting
Radioactivity
Management
Flowsheet Development
Extensive Experience & In-house Facilities
Preliminary Engineering Estimates
Continuous Piloting
High Purity
Product Preparation
![Page 5: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
1975 | 1995 | 2007 | 2009 | 2010 | 2014 | 2017
Kintyre
(Canning/Rio)
Acid Leach
Direct U Precip
Mkuju River
(Mantra)
Acid leach
+ RIP
Ranger (ERA),
Olympic Dam
(WMC/BHP),
Narbarlek
(1982 – 2017)
Kayelekera
(Paladin)
Acid leach
/ RIP
Langer Heinrich
(Paladin)
Alkaline leach / IX
Site pilot
Honeymoon
(Boss)
IX Site Pilot
Trial
Letlhakane
(A-Cap)
Heap leach /
SX / IX pilot
![Page 6: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
ON-SITE
FLUIDISED BED IX
AND RESIN-IN-PULP
![Page 7: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
• Start-up in 1980, now nearing closure
• Flowsheet: Acid leach/CCDs/SX/ADU
• Mainly primary ore
• Stockpiles of weathered ore (laterite) from resource
• Good U grade in laterite
• Adverse impact on U extraction via preg-robbing when
laterite processed with primary ore
• Adverse settling, rheology characteristics
![Page 8: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
8
• Plant trials on primary/laterite blend resulted in U extraction
as low as 53% compared to 90 – 92% for primary ore at
typical pH (1.9)
• High acid consumption at low pH (1.0 – 1.5)
45% solids 2% solids
(kg/t) (%) (%)
1.9 19 74 89
A 1.5 36 85 -
1.0 103 90 -
1.9 12 70 79
B 1.5 23 78 -
1.0 53 81 -
Uranium ExtractionAcid
Consumption
Laterite
Ore
Type
Leach
pH
Data from: Collier et al, “Processing lateritic ores”, Uranium 2000, Canada
![Page 9: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
9
• RIL Data:
Ore
type
Ore Grade
(%U3O8)IX
Leach
pH
Uranium Extraction
(%)
A 0.456 no 1.9 73.8
yes 1.9 84.0
B 0.178 no 1.9 69.5
yes 1.9 71.2
B1 0.314 no 1.95 48.4
yes# 1.9 62.1
#5 vol . % res in was added in IX tests , except in this test where only 2.3% was added
![Page 10: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
10
• Leaching of size fractions
• Preg robbing from liquor at pH 1.95
Fraction Leach
(mm) pHSolids
based
Solution
based
-1000 + 600 1.95 85.0 64.0
-600 1.5 84.4 85.4
-1000 + 150 1.95 80.3 37.0
-150 1.5 80.0 77.8
-1000 + 75 1.95 72.6 32.2
-75 1.5 79.2 87.10.605
Extraction (%)
0.616
0.402
0.559
0.400
Head Grade
(%U3O8)
0.308
![Page 11: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
11
Trommel
To SX
To Tailings Neutralisation
pH 1.9 Leach
CCDs
Primary OreCrush & Mill
Laterite Ore
pH 1.5 Leach
< 1 mm
> 1 mm
H2SO4
H2SO4
• 83% extraction with revised plant trial set-up (~5% laterite)
![Page 12: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
• Southern Tanzania, hosted in Karoo sandstone
• Mantra Resources (now Uranium One / Rosatom)
2010 data:
• Measured + Indicated reserves: 30,000 t U3O8 @ 440 ppm
• LOM 12 y, US$25/lb U3O8, capex US$300m
• Project suspended 2017 (low U prices)
![Page 13: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
13
NF
RIP also
proposed
for Vimy
![Page 14: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Uranium Eluate
1 M H2SO4 (Mkuju River Pilot)
Rig used at
ANSTO
Minerals
![Page 15: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
NF Options in Uranium
Elution/Stripping
• Acid leach flowsheets where NF is an option:
– IX: SB elution with 1 M H2SO4 (Kayelekera1, Mkuju River2,
Michelin3)
– SX: 4 M H2SO4 strip with Alamine (avoids lime) (Rabbit Lake4)
– Options for high chloride in PLS:
• SX: 4.5 M H2SO4 in loaded strip with DEPHA/Alamine
(proposed by ANSTO Minerals5)
• IX: 1 M NaCl elution (proposed by ANSTO Minerals6)
• Alkaline leach flowsheets where NF is an option:
– IX: NaHCO3 elution (Langer Heinrich1)
[1] Peacock et al, Paladin Nanofiltration for Reagent Recovery, ALTA U Conf., 2016; [2] Naidoo et al, Recovery of Acid from IX Eluate using Nanofiltration,
AATM Conf., 2015; [3] Goode and Brown, Michelin U project, Labrador Testwork, Uranium 2010 Conf.; [4] van Tonder and Edwards, Uranium SX strip
options, CIM Journal, 4(4), 2013; [5] Soldenhoff et al, ISEC 2005; [6] Wilson et al, Options for IX for Uranium from Saline Liquors, ALTA U Conf., 2011
![Page 16: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Uranium: NaCl Strip (1 M NaCl)
• Weak base resin for non-
saline and saline leach
liquors (5-12 g/L Cl)
• At 72% permeate
recovery:
– 93% U recovery to
concentrate
– 58% NaCl recovery to
permeate
• Approach adopted and
piloted by Vimy Resources
Data from ANSTO: A. Wilson, M. Fainerman-Melnikova, and K. Soldenhoff, What are the options for an integrated IX process to
recover uranium from saline and hypersaline liquors?, ALTA 2011 Uranium Conference May 26-27 2011,
Perth, 2011, ALTA Metallurgical Services, Australia.
![Page 17: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
ANSTO
R&D
RE
processing
1989 | 1992 | 2007 | 2008 | 2010 | 2014 | 2016 | 2017
Mt Weld
(Ashton /
Lynas)
Pilot Plant
Dubbo Zirconia
(Alkane)
Demo Pilot Plant
(Zr/Nb/REs/Hf)
Nolans Bore
(Arafura)
Pilot Plant
Nolans Bore
(Arafura)
Demo Pilot
Plant
Brown’s
Range
(Northern)
Pilot Plant
Ngualla
(Peak)
Pilot Plant
Yangibana
(Hastings)
Pilot Plant
![Page 18: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
![Page 19: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
RE SX separations for Mt Weld (Ashton/Lynas), Nolans
Bore (Arafura), Ngualla (Peak) and others
![Page 20: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
• Xenotime (HRE deposit: Dy, Tb)
• Resource est: 57,000 t TREO
@ 0.63% TREO
• Acid bake process
• 60,000 tpa on site pilot
plant has commenced
![Page 21: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
21
Brown’s Range
Flowsheet
![Page 22: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Impurity Removal – RE Losses
![Page 23: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
![Page 24: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
![Page 25: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2016 | 2017
Lepidolite
pilot plant
(Lithium Aust)
Salar del
Rincon
(Sentient)
Mini-pilots
Spodumene
pilot plant
(Lithium Aust)
Salar del Rincon
(Sentient)
Demo Pilot Plant
at ANSTO
Salar del Rincon
(Sentient)
Site Demo Pilot
Plant
Hard Rock
Brines Brine
Lab
Work
![Page 26: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Salar del Rincon (Li Brine)
• Argentina, about 4,000 m above sea level
• Planned 50,000 tpa lithium carbonate equivalent for 25 years
• Update: site demo plant in operation (from mid-2017)
• Innovative process (early move to raw brine processing)
• Novel approach to minimise reagent usage and hold-up
![Page 27: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Salar del Ricon
Alternative Brine Process
• Salar de Rincon, Argentina (altitude)
• Enirgi Ltd 100%, 50 ktpa LCE, 25 y
• DFS issued 2016
• Demonstration plant 2017
• Site demo plant
from mid-2017
• Early move to raw brine
• Min. reagent usage
![Page 28: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
![Page 29: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
![Page 30: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
![Page 31: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Alternative Processing
Lepidolite
• Simplified flowsheet
• Applicable to all micas
• Continuous piloting
• Indicated by-product: SOP
• Avoids roast / calcination
• LC to LH conversion
(battery grade)
![Page 32: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Summary
• Technology development for technology metals
• Evolution of approach to meet new challenges and commodity
segments
• Standard flowsheets often require adjustment (technical issues,
polymetallic deposits)
• Reservoir of expertise and facilities to support a wide range of
challenges
![Page 33: Evolution of Project Development / Piloting for Technology ... · Process Development Mineralogy / Characterisation Flowsheet Development Techno-Economic Analysis Continuous Piloting](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022040905/5e79eaa99b92115cc919a7f4/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Questions?