| PGM FROM SLAG PLANT |
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| In April 2005 MRD were awarded the design and construction of a metals from slag recovery plant, on an EPCM basis, for Northam Platinum, a major platinum producer. The plant is designed to process the current arising slag, as well as processing slag from the slag dump. The plant, designed for circa 28,000tpm of feed, was completed early January 2006 and commissioning began in mid-January. The plant ramp-up went to plan and is now in full production and exceeding the testwork metallurgical recoveries for the PGM values, nickel, and the copper. MRD are staffing and managing the plant on contract.
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Mechanical Reclamation of the Slag Dump |
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Mill and Flotation Sections |
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| DIAMOND PLANT |
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| In April 2004 MRD were awarded the Process Design for the modification and upgrade of a small mothballed diamond plant, on behalf of a London-listed diamond company. The plant will process 45,000 tpm of feed material. Special challenges existed due to the remoteness and high elevation of the site.
In August 2004 MRD were awarded the construction of the plant and site establishment was undertaken in September. By the end of 2004, the civils were virtually complete, all long-lead items had been procured, and structural and mechanical erection commenced in January 2005.
The plant commissioned towards the end of the third quarter 2005 and is fully operational. It will also be used to test other reserves in close proximity to the plant. Should these prove viable, a larger plant may be constructed to increase production. |
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Crushing and Scrubber section |
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| PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY – 100,000 TPM CIL GOLD PLANT |
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| This Pre-feasibility was conducted in July for a Canadian Junior Mining Company on a greenfields gold deposit in West Africa. |
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| CONSTRUCTION OF A 28 TPM VANADIUM PENTOXIDE RECOVERY PLANT |
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MRD has designed and constructed the plant to intercept a side stream of a chrome chemicals facility to recover the Vanadium and return the chrome to the facility in a useable form. MRD has sourced the finance for this Build, Own, and Operate project and will be the majority owner of the project which will endure for a minimum five year period, with options to extend.
Project construction completed 28 October 2005, with commissioning through November. The plant is fully operational and is achieving product specifications.
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The allocated area prior to installation |
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Installation of the main tanks |
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| INSTALLATION OF A 140,000 tpm COAL CRUSHING AND SCREENING PLANT |
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In April 2004 MRD were contracted to project manage the refurbishment, modification, and installation of this plant to process coal from a new open pit. The mine, which belongs to a major mining house, supplies coal directly to Eskom. MRD were contracted by the company operating the open pit.
Contract completion: June 2004
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| DUE DILIGENCE ON A 10,000 TPM GOLD PLANT |
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| MRD were requested to audit the plant from the shaft tip to the tailings dam, for the purpose of determining the viability of purchase of the mine. The audit included evaluating the extent and cost of refurbishment for returning the mothballed plant, at its present 6,000 tpm capacity, back to service and increasing the capacity to its original 10,000tpm. |
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| 240 000 tpm CIL PLANT OPERATION |
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In March 2003 MRD were contracted to manage the operation of this Plant on behalf of the owner. MRD assumed full control of all aspects of the operation, and developed the business plan for the reserves available to the owner. MRD found, and undertook metallurgical testwork at its own laboratory, on a further “unknown” reserve. The reserve proved viable and MRD designed and installed the reclamation station which allowed the operation to continue whilst funding was being sourced for the main reserve.
The operational management reverted to the owner in December 2003 on completion of MRD’s contract.
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Hydraulic Gold Tailings Reclamation |
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| UPGRADING OF A 12,000 TPM GOLD PLANT |
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This plant had a nominal capacity of 12,000tpm, and the mine was moving into a harder ore body, reducing the effective throughput. MRD were contracted to evaluate whether the extra crusher and mill, which the mine had available on other mothballed plants, would be suitable to increase the throughput. If so, to indicate how the installation should be undertaken.
The equipment proved suitable and MRD were contracted to project manage the installation of the crusher, mill, and three new leach tanks. The relocation, up a steep sand road to the “top” of a mountain, proceeded well. The plant is achieving the design tonnage, and even exceeds this by up to 10% dependent on the blend of hard and soft ore received at any one time.
Project completion: April 2004 |
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| GOLD PROJECT IN GHANA |
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A client, with gold operations in Ghana, requested MRD in January 2004 to evaluate the projects with respect to upgrading them and improving recoveries. This also included evaluation of the reserves on the projects, including metallurgical testwork.
A Report was compiled detailing the findings, and included, amongst others, recommendations, process routes / reagent suites, operating and capital costs, and a business plan for the operation.
Project Completion: March 2004
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| 5 000 tpm CIP GOLD RECOVERY PLANT |
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In September 2002 MRD were approached to provide metallurgical consulting services to this operation. The plant was constructed on an old plant site utilizing certain portions of the original plant. The plant was commissioned before the carbon elution section was completed. During the ensuing 4 four months MRD assisted in settling the operational parameters on the plant, utilizing the results from testwork undertaken in MRD’s own process laboratory. The process was complicated somewhat as ore was being received from a number of sources. During this time MRD assisted in the installation and commissioning of the elution circuit, with the plant pouring its first gold on site in December.
During January MRD staff handed over to a newly appointed Plant Manager with extensive experience in the gold recovery industry. The plant is now in competent hands and we wish them all the best going forward.
Project completion: March 2003 |
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| 240 000 tpm CIL PLANT OPERATION |
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In February 2003 MRD were approached by a Canadian based Mining Company to assume management control of this plant during a due diligence study of this Mine, which was available for purchase. MRD were also responsible for the metallurgical evaluation of a 6mt reserve, evaluation of the plant, and capital and operating cost estimate for the new reclamation pump station. (Although the due diligence indicated the project was viable, this company refrained from exercising its option and the Mine has been purchased by another company.) During the management of the plant MRD were able to significantly increase the gold production and had commenced in cost optimization projects.
Project completion: March 2003 |
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| 200 000 tpm DUMP RECLAMATION |
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MRD provided the process design and assisted the client, a major gold producing company in SA, with the project management of this pump station. The project included the upgrading of a buffer storage facility from which tonnage to two separate process plants will be controlled to maximize the capacity of these plants, which currently treat only underground ore, as well as the pumping systems to the two plants.
Project completion: April 2003 |
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| PROCESS DEVELOPMENT |
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| MRD were approached to provide the process design, equipment selection, and material of construction requirements for a pilot plant to demonstrate a new, more cost-effective, metal recovery process. This included capital and operating cost estimates. The client is currently in the process of negotiating the sale of the process and the details are confidential.
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| METALLURGICAL TESTWORK |
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| Test work undertaken by MRD at their laboratory, on an ore reserve for a client, indicated some concerns. The client is currently evaluating his options with regard to the project. |
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| 1.2 MILLION TON PER MONTH DUMP RECLAMATION PUMP STATION |
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| In May 2003, MRD, working in partnership with ECMP, were awarded the design of a new pump station in Zambia. This pump station will be reclaiming 1.2mt per month of copper tailings for re-processing. The scope of work included the design, reclamation philosophy, environmental strategy, mining plan, and a clean-up strategy for the dump currently nearing completion. The project has been completed and the design package was handed to the client on 31 July. The relationship with the client, based on the positive reaction to the design package, is on a sound footing and the client expressed the opinion that further projects would follow.
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View of the Tailings Dumps |
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Perspective on the Tailings Dumps |
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| 10,00 TPM GOLD MINE |
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MRD, along with partners Africven Exploration, Africven Consulting, and Q2 Solutions, have completed a due diligence study on a gold mine to determine the viability of re-opening the mine and upgrading the metallurgical plant. MRD was responsible for the metallurgical testwork, evaluation of the metallurgical plant, and recommendations regarding the metallurgical plant.
Project completion: September 2003.
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| DUE DILIGENCE – 40,000 TPM CIP PLANT |
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MRD has completed a due diligence on the possibility of utilizing an old mothballed plant for the treatment of old surface reserves. The project required extensive testing of the reserves as they were all very different in recovery, reagent consumption, and material handling characteristics. All testwork was undertaken in the MRD laboratory.
Project completion: November 2003. |
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| SAMPLING OF URANIUM BEARING EVAPORATION PONDS AND DAMS AT NECSA |
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| MRD completed a sampling programme at NECSA to determine the Uranium content in 6 Evaporation ponds and 4 CaF dams as well as old drums of waste material. This programme was completed in two months and all samples submitted to MINTEK for further analysis. If the contents proof to be viable, MRD will also be involved in designing and constructing a processing facility to recover the Uranium. |
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