GTK MINTECMINERAL PROCESSING, MATERIALS RESEARCH AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY SOLUTIONS

#circulareconomy #gtk #exploration #mining #batteryminerals #rawmaterials, #gtkmintec #circularrawmaterialshub

LinkedIn: GTK Mintec , Twitter: @gtkmintec , www.gtkmintec.com

GTK MINTEC; HISTORY AND TODAY

GTK MINTEC PREMISES GTK MINTEC

3.6.2021

3

Facilities• Total area 5 500 m² • Crushing plant, homogenization area,

concentrator plant• Pilot Plant• Bench Scale process laboratory• Mineralogical Laboratory• Storages for samples and equipment, 1 200 m2• Tailings area, 1.5 hectaresCapacity• 40tn/hr crushing, 5tn/flotation• 24/7 and fully customizable process• Normally 8 to 12 pilot scale studies per year• Unit totally: around 80-100 projects/year

GTK MINTEC SERVICES

3.6.2021

4

Services for the entire mineral production process• 1) Process mineralogy / Geometallurgy, 2) Pilot plant,

3) Bench Scale Laboratory, 4) Mini PilotThe services we provide are:• Mineralogical / geometallurgical research• Bench-scale laboratory testing • Continuous 24/7 minipilot- and pilot-scale test runs• Fully customizable according to the needsScope• Unit operation testing in the pilot plant (e.g milling)• Full process testing in the pilot plant • Commercial potential of a mineral depositCircular economy• Sidestreams, re-mining, wastes

RESEARCH CHAIN FROMORE DEPOSIT TO MINE

3.6.2021

5

GTK can assist customers in• Exploration - geochemistry, geophysics• Ore Potential Evaluation• Environmental studies• Chemical analysis• Geodata• Water managementGTK Mintec can assist customers in• Mineralogy and Geometallurgy• Mineral processing• Plant tests• Feasibility studies• Basic engineering participation• Mine management, Mine Closure• Re-mining studies

PROCESS MINERALOGY LABORATORY

3.6.2021

6

Mineralogical analysis is used as a basis for the development of beneficiation methods

• Mineralogical and geometallurgical research

• Mineralogical analysis is an essential tool in developing new beneficiation methods

What we do:

Characterization of mineral products and environmental samples in

• Mining activities (green/brown field), ore prospecting, beneficiation technology and smelting plants.

• Circular economy, side and waste streams of all sorts

Tools

• Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Mineral Liberation Analyser (MLA

• FE-SEM (MLA/QEMSCAN/AMICS): high resolution imaging, advanced process mineralogy

• XRD: mineral identification and quantification using Rietveld method

• Raman microscope: e.g., Magnetite / Hematite , Li-minerals (spodumene)

Technical facilities for sample preparation

MINERAL PROCESSING AT BENCH SCALE

3.6.2021

7

• Process chemistry research, grinding, beneficiation testing, determination of hydrophobicity and electrode potential.

• Our focus is on flotation method.

• Gravity and magnetic separation and thickening is also conducted as laboratory studies.

• Next step is minipilot- or pilot-scale tests.

• We have testing facilities suitable both for normal and high-pressure leaching.

• Bioleaching has also been used to extract base metals

• Our laboratory testing provides our customers with a preliminary overview of the process required to process their mineral deposit.

MINI PILOT PLANT

3.6.2021

8

First study in a continuous process after bench scale results• Sample size 400 – 2,000 kg Samples types:

• drill cores, ore sample etc.Samples are pre-crushed to feed size of 3 - 6 mmFacility was originally designed and constructed in a sea containerFeed capacity 10 - 50 kg/h.

3.6.2021

PILOT PLANTProcess: • Processes can easily be adapted to capacity

ranges from 0.2 tph up to 5 tph• Sample sizes typically from 20 to 300 tonnes• Plant automation and process control of a high

level, together with automatic sampling systems, ensure the highest quality results

Objectives:• Testwork for feasibility studies of new ore deposits• Process development for existing plants• Develop comminution and benefication methods• and equipment for industry• Generate process information for plant design• Assist in bankable feasibility studies

CRUSHING PLANT

3.6.2021

10

Crushing laboratoryCrushing plant• Capacity around 40 tph.• Storing area for homogenised feed.

Tools and equipment• Jaw crusher: Lokomo C 63 B, 45 kW• Gyratory crushers: Lokomo G158, G108,´75 kW each• Horizontal Shaft Impactor: 2 x Hazemag AP-S 0604,15 kW• Vertical Shaft Impactor: Sandvik B5100 • Vibrating screens: Lokomo B130, B230, 7.5 kW each• High pressure roller mill: LRM, Ø 300 x 100 mm, 2 x 11 kW

RESULTS

3.6.2021

11

Results from test runs indicate the commercial value and process efficiency of a mineral depositTest runs gives an overview on how efficient a full-scale beneficiation process will be Estimation on the commercial value of the mineral deposit. Intermediate and end products, such as concentrates and tailings, that can be used in further studies.

Assisting in developing key solutions for the circular economyThe applicability of mineral processing methods to environmental and recycling-related operations has been proven by several studies. The processes used to extract minerals from ore can be used in the remediation of contaminated soil and separating recyclable metals from industrial slag and other side streams and wastes

GTK MINTEC DEVELOPMENT PLAN

3.6.2021

13

Boosters / Megatrends• Climate change, Digitalization (AI), Carbon Neutral Society, Zero-emission transport, Automation, Cities,

Sustainability, Circular EconomyFacts and needs: • Ore grades getting lower• New processing methods are needed• Environmental and social licenses• Technology suppliers needs testings and research sites• Circular ecomony requires new methods – innovations – research• ”New” sources for primary raw materialsGTK solutions and services• Creating a collaboration platform for technology suppliers and research• Total renewal of GTK Mintec to meet stakeholders requirements• Remining of old tailings, industrial waste and sidestreams• SMARTT Tailings Facility; research infrastructure for tailings and water recyclability

TARGET: NUMBER #1 IN THE WORLD

3.6.2021

14

GTK Mintec will be #1 Mineral Processing Pilot Plant globally, having non-parallelcompetence processing know-how on:

• Primary minerals, geomaterials, ores, metals, etc• Circular Economy materials• Re-mining research of old tailings• Digitalization of a Pilot Plant• Tailings research• Mine environment and Mine Closure• Technology collaboration

Conversion to a test platform and facility for Technology Partners, Startups, Universities, Research CentersCircular Raw Materials Hub in Espoo with co-operation with Aalto and VTTWe are looking for strategic partners to make this happen

SMART TAILINGS AREA: SOLUTIONS FOR THETAILORED WASTES

3.6.2021

15

Sensor / probes - technology enables short and long term studies

”SMART” tailings facility – feeds Digital Twin with Data

Re-mining studies

Dry stacking research

Bottom and cover structures

Water recyclability - collaboration and research

Morecovery – Water recovery for recycling – valuables

Technology supplier collaboration

COLLABORATION

3.6.2021

16

New office and laboratory building will have space that can be rented out (ready by 9/2023)

• New laboratory will have space for collaboration partners• Lab scale testing• Equipment and chemicals testing• Product development

• Technology companies, research centers, universities etc• Jointly funded projects• Commercial projects• Innovations, publications• Wide range of research topics

MINTEC NEXT STEPS

3.6.2021

17

•New intelligent flotation cells (8/2021, M:O)•New HIG Mill (6/2021, M:O)•New Process Automation software (Schneider

Electrics/PASRAM)•~30 investments in 2019-2021•Digital twin is forming step by step

Present Mintec Pilot Plant

(Koetehdas) is under

refurbishment / renewal

•Research collaboration in mineral processing, circular economy

•New line will have focus on water recycling in the process: Cost saving, environmental aspects

•Strong link to SMARTT and technology collaboration on ”solid wastes”

Renewal plan: Added capacity, two processing

lines

MORECOVERY

3.6.2021

18

• The innovation EIT RawMaterials project Morecovery

• Smart solutions for the sustainable extraction and use of raw materials from secondary sources

• Transportable water cleaning container

• Solutions for the customers• Active collaboration with companies

• Publications and innovations

• Contains e.g. on-line XRF (9/2021)

FULLY AUTOMATEDLABORATORY

3.6.2021

19

• Sample throught put to emptysystem: Milling sequence 5-6min total, XRF: 15 min, XRD 10-15 min

• Stardized way of making sample• 24/7• Ores, Industrial Minerals,

Geomaterials, Side Streams, Circular Materials

• Battery Minerals

OUTCOME: GTK MINTEC AT OUTOKUMPU MINING CAMP, FINLAND

3.6.2021

Digital Twin

3.6.2021

Drystacking

MineralogyGeometallurgy

Other: 3D

Data

”SMART” Tailings Facility

Customer

Research

Process Automation

Data

Chemicalanalysis

MiniPilot

CustomerCustomer

GTK MINTEC

Technology suppliers,

Universities, research centers

QUESTIONS?

3.6.2021

22

• jouko.nieminen@gtk.fi• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joukonieminen/• Twitter: @jouko_nieminen• www.gtk.fi

Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter!