MINERALIZED DUMPS PROCESSING
OVERVIEW
The mining property Cerro el Plomo performs minerals related to a larger vein-type structure, which is projected with a general course NS-NE. Along this structure, mainly on the hillside south of Cerro El Plomo, there are signs of artisanal mining activity that developed sporadically during the XIX century, in the form of subvertical pits and drift along the mineralized body, with their respective fields of the material extracted.
MINERALOGY
The dumps consist mainly of fragments of veins and hostrock, constituted by an alternation of bands of coloform-crustiform quartz, carbonates, barite and in a discrete adulariasericite. The mineralization recognized in these fragments is a mixed type: oxidized copper, zinc and lead carbonates, and manganese coexist with sulfur species of secondary and primary copper, zinc, lead and silver. The oxidized copper occur as fracture filling, impregnation and replacement, and are represented by chrysocolla (0.5%), malachite-azurite (0.5-1%), clays with copper (0.1-0.5%) and brocanthite (0.1%). Zinc silicates correspond to rosasite (0.5-1%) and hemimorphite (0.1%) occurring fundamentally as impregnation. The predominant lead carbonate is Cerussite (3%) which occurrence is restricted to discrete fracture fillings.
The sulfur species are occluded in the quartz bands, copper sulphides are chalcosine (0.5%) and covelin (0.1-0.5%), both in skates and pseudomorphic replacements of indeterminate primary sulfides, which appear in fine dissemination along quartz bands crustiform. In the same way, relics of sphalerite (1.5-2%) and galena are observed (0.1-0.5%) partially oxidized. In stripes of gray-colored quartz, recognized scattered traces of secondary silver sulfides such as acanthite and argentite (<0.1%), in addition to fine dissemination of silver sulfosalts as proustite and pyrargyrite (<0.1%).
QUANTIFICATION
The tonnage of dumps was identified topographically by sectors as 22000 tons. During 2018-2019 all material was processed on a 150 km far away flotation concentrator. The dumps were screened preliminary to separate hostrocks fragments. 15000 tons were processed finally to obtain 500 tons of high grade Pb, Au, Ag concentrate.
CONCENTRATION TECHNOLOGY DESIGN
Systematic sampling of the dumps was done by sectors to identify the mineral grade and initiate metallurgical tests campaign. The metallurgical tests were carried out by AMINPRO laboratory with the sampled material, through froth flotation. Resulfidization technique was involved to recover oxidised, weathered minerals to beneficiate mainly Lead, Silver and Gold.
BENEFICIATION PROCESS
The dumps had been processed during 2018-2019. We designed and implemented a highly effective Process Control System aimed to maximize metal recovery and the concentrate grade.
BENEFICIATION PROCESS
500 tons of high grade Pb 57-62%, Ag 1500-1800 ppm, Au 20-24 ppm concentrate was exported through TRAFIGURA GROUP sales system.
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REPORTS
ASSAYS BY SECTOR
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COMMERCIAL ASSAYS EXAMPLE 02
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COMMERCIAL ASSAYS EXAMPLE 01
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COMMERCIAL ASSAYS EXAMPLE 03
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POLYMETALLIC MINERALS PROCESSING
The way to beneficiate intrinsic metals value of complex Cu-Pb-Zn ores
HCA team bases on the selective flotation technological process for Chilean polymetallic minerals. We provide market opportunity for the deposits “contaminated” by Lead and Zinc since Chilean industry is focused mainly on Copper. Thus, mines with polymetallic nature are becoming viable in conservative environment.
The gain of the project is not just to clean Copper concentrate from impurities that are being penalized by smelters, but recover other base metals obtaining higher revenues.
We are the first company in a new Chilean history which processed complex Copper(ChPy)-Lead(Ga)-Zinc(Sph) mineral obtaining three mono concentrates, moreover bulk Lead-Zinc concentrate had been produced and exported as well.
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INDUSTRIAL COPPER SCRAP
HC Americas provides perfect pricing and payment terms directly connecting copper recycling factories in Russia and chilean copper electrowinning industry that generates industrial copper scrap in the form of copper cathode cuttings, layerings, off-grade copper cathodes that do not meet the LME physical shape standard etc.
In its chemical properties, this kind of raw material is similar to a copper cathode, since the latter is its direct source. Minimum copper content is 99.9%.
