Nichromet--Gold-Process | Rodger Allen

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Nichromet Extraction Gold Technology
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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
• environmental mortgage on residues
• Can be implemented as modular plant

Nichromet Extraction Inc. 3700, Lac Noir
Street Thetford Mines (Qc) 418-423-7247 www.nichr
omet.com
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Vision

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

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Overview of the Process
Controlled Oxidation
Sulphides Ores
Sulfuric Acid
Acid Leaching
Base Metals
Halogens Treatment
Precious Metals
Inert Tailings
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Nichromet Process Flowsheet
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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 (exWisconsin)
• Extraction of silver and PGM if present

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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

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Characteristics of the Nichromet Technology

• Flexible
• Can handle base metals (bulk flotation higher
  efficiency)
• Can treat carbonaceous ore
• Can handle telluride contamination

• Fast
• Leaching time of 2 hours instead of 2 days for
  cyanide

• Green
• Cyanide-free process
• Sulfide is recycled as sulfuric acid
• No waste water, no tailing pond and no air
  pollutants
• Solid wastes inert and stable, even when
  using high arsenic ores

• Profitable
• Process cost (/oz gold) similar to cyanide
• Capital cost lower (10-15) than cyanide

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Successfully piloted at the ton scale on a wide
range of materials
Sources Type Grade (g/T) Barren Solid (g/T) Yield ()
1 Canada (Quebec) Ore 2,58 g/T 0,07 g/T 97,5
2 Canada (Quebec) Ore 3,45 g/T 0,34 g/T 93,2
3 Canada (Quebec) Ore 13,9 g/T 0,79 g/T 95,4
4 Canada (Ontario) Conc. 55,3 g/T 4,79 g/T 94,0
5 Eastern Europe Conc. 7,5 g/T 1,48 g/T 91,0
6 Canada (Quebec) Conc. 53,5 g/T 3,56 g/T 94,1
Flotation concentrates requiring pre-treatment
by oxidation
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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

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Somine Haïti Project vs Nichromet Technology

• Current gold estimated resources (3,2 MT)
• Gold 339 000 oz Au _at_ 3,27 g Au/T
• Copper 28 Mlbs _at_ 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

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Great Potential for a Nichromet plant in Haïti

• 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.

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Toward a Greener Gold Industry