How does SandLix work?
This technology reimagines the heap leach process by engineering the particle size of the ore to generate a highly permeable “sand” for heap leaching. It offers potentially game changing innovation in heap leach technology.
Fines (extremely finely ground ore that tends to turn to a mud-like substance when wet), which are removed from the ore to increase the permeability of the remaining heap, are treated in a separate small, integrated flotation process which both increases recovery and optimises leach reagent consumption.
What then remains is a heap made up of sand grain sized particles through which the chemicals can easily flow, enabling the chemical conditions and temperatures in these permeable sand heaps to be more precisely controlled to recover copper from the ore.
The key to unlocking high recoveries lies in the configuration and control of the particle size, temperature and chemistry in highly permeable heaps, which are adapted specifically for each ore.
Precise control of these optimised heaps generates conditions for natural bio-oxidising microbes to thrive and increase the temperature of the heap to where high recovery rates of copper can be achieved from even low-grade, chalcopyrite ores (also often referred to as primary copper ores).
Through this unique process of heap leaching, SandLix™ has the potential to reduce the cut-off grade of copper processes by up to 20% and increase resource utilisation by economically processing low-grade ores, while reducing water and energy intensity and reducing the volume of wet tailings that requiring storage.
