Is the Python Right for Me?Python Amenability Test Work

Gravity Gold 2010

Tim Hughes, Ken Donaldson, Ben Murphy

Outline

• Underground Processing and Python• Python Flowsheet• Testing for Python

– VSI Amenability– Continuous Gravity Recovery– Flotation

Underground Gold Processing

Potential Benefits

• Haulage reduction• Less waste handling• Smaller surface

footprint• Lower cut off grade

•Designed for mobility and flexibility•Pre-concentration focus•5 dry modules, 6 wet modules, 2 electrical

The Python

Python Flowsheet

Why Gravity and Flotation?

Combined Size by Size Unit Gold

Recoveries of IPJ and Flash Flotation

0102030405060

size um

% r

eco

very

flash

IPJ

Python Amenability Testing

• Mineralogy• Bond Impact Crushing Work Index• Bond Abrasion Index• Vertical Shaft Impactor Amenability• Continuous Gravity Recovery• Flotation Recovery• Concentrate Treatment• Concentrate Handling• Tailings Testing

Python Throughput

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

0 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800

Feed

rate

tp

h

Final Crush Size (P80 µm)

Python 500 Expected Feedrate vs Crush Size and VSI Amenability

High VSI Low VSI Site"A" Nominal Plant Limit

Single Pass VSI Amenability Test

VSI Single Pass Amenability Test

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

10 100 1000 10000 100000

Particle Size (microns)

Cum

ulat

ive

% P

assi

ng

FEED SAMPLE1 SAMPLE2

Continuous Gravity Recovery Test

Table Test

Table Test

Cleaner TableVSI P100

600µm

P100 ~ 1.18mm

Conc.

Tail

Tail

Tail

Conc.

Conc.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Yield

Reco

very

Au Distribution

S Distribution

Ag Distribution

Gravity Yield-Recovery Curve

Flotation Testing

• Bulk float

• Typical Reagents:

PAX, CuSO4 and frother

• 4 x 30s concentrates

• 2 x 5min concentrates

– ultimate recovery

• Yield - Recovery

Flotation of Gravity Tails

Combined Recovery Yield Curve

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Yield

Rec

ove

ryAuDistributionS Distribution

AsDistribution

Gravity Recovery Yield Curve

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Yield

Re

co

ve

ry

AuDistributionS Distribution

AsDistribution

Recovery by Gravity

Gold recovery by gravity only 81% into ~15% mass

Combined gravity and float recovery around 96% Au into ~15% mass

Flotation recovery-yield data

Combined Gravity and Flotation

Gravity Only vs Gravity + Flotation RecoveryAll Gekko Data

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1 11

21

31

41

51

61

71

81

91

101

Site

Go

ld R

ec

ov

ery

%

Gravity+Flotation

Gravity Only

>90% Recovery

Summary

• Underground pre-concentration has a number of operational benefits and savings.

• Gekko’s Python utilises fine crushing, gravity separation and flotation to maximise these benefits.

• Gekko has developed a robust group of laboratory tests to assess an ore’s suitability for Python processing.

• A large proportion of ores tested have been amenable to the Python flowsheet.

Introduction

QUESTIONS ?