Consulting on Mining Projects

PROJECTS

FS Stage for Cuprum Resources - Puquios Project

Cuprum Resources is a Chilean mining company that develops the Puquios open-pit copper project in the north-central region of Coquimbo.

Our team played a pivotal role in helping our client navigate the complex process of copper recovery from a 6,000 tpd (tons per day) oxide, secondary sulphide, and transition copper mineral deposit, acting as a counterpart. The project required comprehensive review and collaboration with key industry players such as NovaMineralis, Ausenco, and Hatch, focusing on metallurgical testing, feasibility engineering, and due diligence.

KEY PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Crushing & Agglomeration for Optimal Leaching
The project entailed designing a crushing and agglomeration plant that would efficiently prepare the ore for the leaching process. The engineering team advised on optimizing the plant for the 6,000 tpd capacity, ensuring the right particle size distribution and uniform agglomeration to maximize copper recovery from diverse mineral types.

Innovative Leaching Solution
The leaching process was designed to handle various ore types, including oxide, secondary sulphide, and transition minerals. Agglomeration with sulfuric acid and NaCl salt was a crucial step, generating chlorinated solutions with a chloride concentration of 80 gpl, which greatly enhanced the dissolution of the secondary sulphide minerals. This innovative approach facilitated more efficient copper recovery from challenging ore compositions.

SX Process with Dual Washing Stages
To safeguard the Electrowinning (EW) stage from the harmful effects of chloride ions, our consultants recommended an advanced Solvent Extraction (SX) process with two critical washing stages. This ensured the complete removal of chloride ions before the final EW phase, allowing for the production of high-purity copper while maintaining equipment integrity and process efficiency.

Collaboration with Industry Experts
Our role also involved advising the client on leveraging metallurgical tests developed by NovaMineralis. As part of the broader project team, we worked closely with Ausenco during the feasibility engineering phase and Hatch in conducting thorough due diligence, ensuring all project components adhered to industry-leading standards.

This project is a great example of how collaboration, innovation, and expert advisory can drive success in complex metallurgical processes. By focusing on tailored solutions for unique mineral compositions, our team helped deliver a robust leaching operation that maximized copper recovery and efficiency.

OUR SERVICES

PROCESS ENGINEERING

MINING OPERATIONS

CONCENTRATOR PLANTS

HYDROMETALLURGY

INNOVATION

COMMITTED

TO OUR CLIENTS

Our services help the mining industry and the communities that surround it. We believe in improving processes to achieve a lower impact on the environment and communities. Every day, we support our clients in improving their operations and being the cleanest possible.