Download Comminution and Metallurgical Testwork Program Guidelines for

COMMINUTION AND METALLURGICAL TESTWORK PROGRAM GUIDELINES FOR
SUCCESFULL MINERAL PROCESSING DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION
J. Torrealba-Vargas*, S. Girgin, R. Esteban and D. Runnels
BBA Inc.
630, boul. René-Lévesque Ouest. Bureau 1900
Montréal, Canada H3B 1S6.
(*corresponding author [email protected])
ABSTRACT
Every mineral processing project requires testwork in the early stages to evaluate the economical potential
of a deposit. The testwork needs to be efficient and it should provide enough information to obtain key
parameters for a high level flowsheet selection.
A successful project requires that the stakeholders develop an efficient sample collection program to
produce enough material for both scoping and pre-feasibility level programs. As early as possible, a team
of geologists, mining and metallurgical engineers involved in the project should work together to define the
deposit characteristics that need to be validated.
The challenge in test program development is not limited to greenfield projects. Often operating plants face
improvement obligations to meet financial requirements or may target a throughput increase by the
addition of a new ore body to their mining plans. This approach may require the analysis of the previous
test work results along with operating data and to develop a testwork program that addresses the needs of
the operation and to ensure that the new ore body can be processed using the existing flowsheet with an
acceptable investment.
The project schedule requires a close control of the testwork procedures, timing, but also the efficient
analysis of results to quickly identify red flags that could impact circuit design and/or modifications.
In some cases, due to fluctuations of the world economy, projects are put on hold until the return of better
conditions. In these scenarios, an advanced data analysis of former testwork results and/or operating data
could significantly reduce the amount of testwork required to restart a project for a greenfield project or to
meet the production timeline and objectives for a brownfield project.
The present paper will present examples of BBA’s latest projects that tackle the challenges described
above with solutions that were developed according to these guidelines.
KEYWORDS
Testwork, Sample Selection, Plant Design and Optimization, R and Data Analysis.