Nichromet Extraction

Gold Technology

RodgerAllenGoldMine
 Nichromet Cyanide-Free
Gold Extraction Technology

A green alternative to
the classical cyanide
approach

Give access to ores

refractory to cyanidation

Less costly than the

classical processes without
Nichromet Extraction Inc. environmental mortgage on
3700, Lac Noir Street residues
Thetford Mines (Qc)
418-423-7247 Can be implemented as
www.nichromet.com modular plant

RodgerAllenGoldMine
 Vision

Develop an economic alternative

to classical cyanide process for
gold extraction, while keeping a
sustainable development
approach minimizing the impact
on the environment.

RodgerAllenGoldMine
 Overview of the Process

Sulphides Controlled
Oxidation SulfuricAcid
Ores

Acid BaseMetals
Leaching

Halogens
PreciousMetals
Treatment

InertTailings
RodgerAllenGoldMine
 Nichromet Process Flowsheet
Copper Oxidation
Removal
To Atm
Pre-Treatment

From Bag House

Concentrtor

Concentrate

Copper
Extraction
Arsenic
SO2
Scrubber
Scrubber
Oxidation
Fluidized Bed

Gypsum

To Arsenic Gold Circuit

Stabilization

Iron
Precipitation
Concentrated
Brine
Holding Tank Polished
Chlorination
Brine
Reactor
Holding Tank
Hypohalides
Holding Tank
Deaeration Reverse
Tank Osmosis

Electrolysis
Cell
Ca(OH)2
Hematite Na2CO3

Larox filter
Tailings Iron
Precipitator
Calcium
Copper Precipitator
Cementation

Carbon In Polishing
Pregnant Filtration
Column Carbon to
Brine
Holding Gold
Tank Recovery # DE DESSIN

Iron TITRE
Removal
Sector 00 : General Flowsheet
REALISE PAR PAGE
David Lemieux 1 SUR 1
Blister
Copper DATE DE MODIFICATION
2013-02-12

RodgerAllenGoldMine
 Advantages Over
Cyanide
Faster Reaction Time
Process time of few hours instead of few
days
Legal issues
Cyanidation has been banned in many
countries and some States in USA
(ex:Wisconsin)
Extraction of silver and PGM if present

RodgerAllenGoldMine
 Environmental
Advantages

No cyanide
No tailings pond (elimination of spillage
hazard)
No liquid effluent
Solids residues devoided of sulphides and base
metals
No acidic lixiviate or contaminants from tailings
site

RodgerAllenGoldMine
 Characteristics of the
Nichromet Technology
Flexible
Fast
Can handle base metals
Leaching time of 2 hours (bulk flotation : higher
instead of 2 days for cyanide efficiency)
Can treat carbonaceous
ore
Green Can handle telluride
Cyanide-free process contamination
Sulfide is recycled as sulfuric
acid Profitable
No waste water, no tailing Process cost ($/oz gold)
pond and no air pollutants similar to cyanide
Solid wastes : inert and Capital cost lower (10-15%)
stable, even when using high than cyanide
arsenic ores

RodgerAllenGoldMine
 Successfully piloted at the ton scale
on a wide range of materials
Barren
Grade
Sources Type Solid Yield (%)
(g/T)
(g/T)
1: Canada Ore 2,58 g/T 0,07 g/T 97,5 %
(Quebec)
2: Canada Ore 3,45 g/T 0,34 g/T 93,2 %
(Quebec)
3: Canada Ore 13,9 g/T 0,79 g/T 95,4 %
(Quebec)
4: Canada Conc. 55,3 g/T 4,79 g/T 94,0 %
(Ontario)*
5 : Eastern Conc. 7,5 g/T 1,48 g/T 91,0 %
Europe*
6: Canada Conc. 53,5 g/T 3,56 g/T 94,1 %
(Quebec)*
*Flotationconcentratesrequiringpretreatmentbyoxidation
RodgerAllenGoldMine
 Environmental
Recognition

Grant of 700 k$ from Green

Technologies Demonstration Program
of Quebec Government in 2011-2012

Grant of 5 M$ from Sustainable

Technology Development Fund of
Federal Governement in 2013

RodgerAllenGoldMine
 Somine Hati Project vs
Nichromet Technology

Current gold estimated resources (3,2 MT)

Gold : 339 000 oz Au @ 3,27 g Au/T
Copper : 28 Mlbs @ 0,4 %Cu

Exploitation permit in force

Mining plan
Near surface resources (open pit potential, low operating cost)

20 M$ investment done in exploration to date

RodgerAllenGoldMine
 Great Potential for a
Nichromet plant in Hati

Phase I
Bring the top layer of the deposit into production
with a modular plant to process oxides
concentrate
15 M$ investment for the modular plant only
Potential of 25 000 oz Au/year

Phase II
1000 TPD Mine and full scale processing plant
Gold production rate of 35 000 oz Au/yr
Investment for Nichromet processing plant of 35
M$

Nichromet is currently conducting a demonstration

program for the application of its technology on the
Faille B deposit.
RodgerAllenGoldMine
Toward a Greener
Gold Industry

RodgerAllenGoldMine