The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

Founded in 1894

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Percolation leaching:
The status globally and in southern Africa
7 November 2011 Short Course 89 November 2011 Conference
MISTY HILLS, MULDERSDRIFT
BACKGROUND

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of heap

Dr J. Pe

WHO WILL BENEFIT

Practitioners, researchers, consultants
and technology suppliers in heap-,
dump-, vat- and in situ leaching
Engineers and scientists working in the
extractive metallurgy of gold, uranium
and base metals, be it in research and
development, design and engineering,
or production
Exploration companies looking for new
deposits of gold, uranium and base
metals
Role players in the formulation of policy
and regulations related to exploration,
mining and environmental impact.

The minerals processing industry will always have a need for technologies that make the
exploitation of smaller, lower-grade and complex resources economically viable.
Examples from the southern African minerals industry include efforts to extend the
economic life of ageing gold mines, exploit the low-grade sandstone-hosted uranium
deposits, and treat the copper-oxide caps and lateritic nickel ores.
Heap leaching, and other percolation-leaching adaptations (such as dump-, vat- and in
situ-leaching), is not a single or static technology. Innovation is occurring continuously
all over the world, in order to adapt to an ever increasing number of potential
applications, including even attempts at in-situ leaching of metals from hard rock.
A large number of exploration projects is being undertaken, and several of the new ore
resources may only be economically treatable by some form of percolation leaching.
The southern African region in particular presents new and extensive opportunities to
international percolation leaching engineers and vendors to market their expertise and
products.
This conference aims to open a fresh discussion and debate on all forms of percolation
leaching, and its potential future role. Topics would include lessons to be learnt from
established international projects, the latest developments in design and engineering
related to percolation leaching projects, and identification of challenges that still require
further innovation. This forum will present an opportunity to share knowledge and
experience in the latest percolation leaching developments from around the world.
A sound understanding of the controlling mechanisms in solution mining will promote
more efficient processes and provide great value to design engineers, investors and
mine operators. Percolation leaching may appear simple to the uninitiated. However
its success relies heavily on correct design, since problems can often not be remedied
after operation has started. Case studies therefore provide valuable insights gained
from practical experience, to compliment the fundamental formulations provided by
academics.

EXHIBITIONS/SPONSORSHIP
There are a number of sponsorship
opportunities available. Companies wishing
to sponsor or exhibit should contact the
Conference Co-ordinator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Conference Co-ordinator
Raymond van der Berg, SAIMM
P O Box 61127, Marshalltown 2107
Tel: (011) 834-1273/7
Fax: (011) 833-8156 or (011) 838-5923
E-mail: raymond@saimm.co.za
Website: http://www.saimm.co.za

S:

SPONSOR

Conference Announcement and Final Programme

FINAL PROGRAMME
Day 1: Monday 7 November 2011

14:4015:05 Afternoon Tea

09:0010:30
10:3011:00
11:0012:00
12:0013:00
13:0014:30
14:3015:00
15:0016:00
17:0019:00

15:0515:30 Ore geo-mechanical properties and effects on

copper heap leach kinetics
G. Miller, Miller Metallurgical Services

Fundamentals of Heap Leaching Short Course

Morning Tea
Fundamentals of Heap Leaching Short Course
Lunch
Fundamentals of Heap Leaching Short Course
Afternoon Tea
Fundamentals of Heap Leaching Short Course
Welcome Cocktail & Registration

15:3015:55 Assessing a two-stage heap leaching process for

Platreef flotation concentrate
J.M. Mwase*, J. Petersen*, and J.J. Eksteen,
*University of Cape Town and Western Platinum Ltd
18:0021: 00 Dinner

Day 2: Tuesday 8 November 2011

Day 3: Wednesday 9 November 2011

Session Chairman:
07:3008:00 Registration and Coffee
08:0008:05 WelcomeChairman
08:0508:20 Welcome Address
Prof. N. van der Merwe, President, SAIMM
08:2008:50 Opening Address:
Percolation leaching to date in southern Africa
P.J. van Staden, Mintek
Process Design, Engineering and Operational Practise
08:5009:20 Keynote Speaker:
Evolution of metallurgical parameters at
Mantoverde division of Anglo American copper
C. Salgado, C. Perez, C. Alvayai, and G. Zarate, Anglo
American Chile
09:2009:45 The art of heap leachingThe fundamentals
L.W. John, BIOMET Engineering
09:4510:10 Copper heap leaching in ChileCurrent status and
future direction
E. Robles and C. Garca, Hatch Ingenieros y
Consultores Ltda
10:1010:30 Morning Tea
Session Chairman:
10:3010:55 Optimization of vat leaching operation at Mantos
Blancos division of Anglo American copper
J. Nuez and G. Zarate, Anglo American Chile
10:5511:20 Talvivaara heap bioleaching process
P. Saari* and M. Riekkola-Vanhanen, *Talvivaara
Sotkamo Mine Ltd and Talvivaara Mining Company Plc
11:2011:45 The geology of the Karoo sandstone-hosted
uranium deposits, and their possible exploitation by
in situ leaching methods
G. Henry, CSIR
11:4512:10 SART for copper control in cyanide heap leaching
M.P. Stewart and D.W. Kappes, Kappes, Cassiday &
Associates
12:1013:00 Lunch
Session Chairman:
13:0013:25 Geometallurgical ore characterisation for heap
leaching
A. McFarlane*, L. Koziy, and J. Barclay-Martin,
*Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre, The
Parker Centre (CSIRO Minerals Down Under Flagship)
and ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits
13:2513:50 High pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) applications in
heap leaching and in other percolation leaching
processesbenefits, testing and avoidable pitfalls
H. von Michaelis, Randol International Ltd
13:5014:15 Advances in high temperature heap leaching of
refractory copper sulphide ores
S.W. Robertson, P.J. van Staden, and S. Seyedbagheri,
Mintek
14:1514:40 Defining the properties of good agglomerates
A. McFarlane*, L. Kuhar, N. Turner, N.M. Botsis and
S. Ravi, *Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre,
The Parker Centre (CSIRO Minerals Down Under
Flagship)

Session Chairman:
Modelling, Academic and Fundamental Aspects
07:3008:30 Registration and Coffee
08:3008:35 WelcomeChairman
08:3509: 15 Keynote Speaker:
Myths and misunderstandings in leaching
F. Crundwell and N. du Preez, CM Solutions
09:1509 :40 Review on the role of microbiology in the design
and operation of heap bioleaching processes
M. Gericke, Mintek
09:4010:05 The development of heap leaching in chloride
solutions for primary and secondary copper
minerals
M. Nicol*, H. Miki*, D. Rautenbach, L. Velasques, and
C. van Buuren, *Murdoch University, Perth, BHP
Billiton-Base Metals and Universidad Catolica del
Norte, Chile
10:0510:30 Morning Tea
Session Chairman:
10:3010:55 High temperature heap leaching of chalcopyrite:
Method of evaluation and process model validation
D.W. Dew*, G.F. Rautenbach, I.J. Harvey, J.S.
Truelove, and R.P. van Hille, *Bioleaching Technology,
BHP Billiton-Base Metals and University of Cape Town
10:5511:20 Investigation of heap leaching at the particle scale
using x-ray computed tomography
Y. Ghorbani, J. Petersen, M. Becker, A. Mainza and
J-P. Franzidis, University of Cape Town
11:2011:45 Mathematical and computer modelling of the
chloride assisted leaching of Covellite. Pore
Diffusion Phenomena
A. Cherkaev*, P. Basson, and J. Petersen*, *University
of Cape Town and Mintek
11:4512:10 Mathematical modelling of heap leaching under drip
irrigation
D.G. Dixon and K.I. Afewu, University of British
Columbia, Canada
12:1013:30 Lunch
Session Chairman:
Risk, Environmental and IP Management
13:3014:10 Keynote speaker: Sustainability issues related to
heap leaching operations
J.F. Lupo, Newmont Mining Corporation
14:1014:35 Hydrodynamic properties of ore for leach
A Guzman, HydroGeoSense Inc
14:3515:00 Financial risk reduction via hybrid heap leaching
L.W. John, BIOMET Engineering
15:0015:25 Patenting in the field of percolation leaching
R.F. Taberer, McCallum Rademeyer & Freimond
15:2515:50 Afternoon Tea
15:50

Closure

Percolation leaching:
The status globally and in southern Africa

The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

Founded in 1894

7 November 2011Short Course 89 November 2011Conference

Misty Hills, Muldersdrift
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