The Emerald Lake concentrator design and commissioning

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 82, No. 923, 1989

Gary Hawthorn, Consulting Mineral Processing Engineer

Laboratory testing, by Lakefleld Research determined that, in spite of the relatively high pyrite content of the Golden Rose (OR) orebody, it would respond well to gravity concentration followed by either direct cyanidation or cyanidation of a flotation concentrate. Economics favoured the former choice which became the adopted process flowsheet. During the latter stage of the feasibility study, the Dekalb 500 tpd copper flotation mill became available in the Highland Valley of British Columbia. This plant was purchased by Emerald Lake Resources, and was moved to the Golden Rose minesite. The crushing and grinding circuit were retained and the original flotation circuit was replaced with a 400 mtd gravity plus cyanidation circuit. The plant commissioning commenced in August 1987, and by early September was processing 300 tpd.

Keywords: Equipment design, Mineral processing, Concentrator design, Emerald Lake concentrato