Conventional mining yields three main by-products: tailings, effluents, and products/concentrate. Tailings are waste after ore processing, effluents are liquid waste during mining, and products/concentrate are valuable minerals. Proper management is vital for environmental and social acceptance.
Concentrate is the refined product obtained from ore through beneficiation processes, containing a higher concentration of valuable minerals, or core product. Concentrate serves as the primary source of valuable metals or minerals in mining operations, undergoing further processing or sale to downstream industries.
These core products encompass a range of commodities extracted from the Earth, including metals like gold, silver, copper, and iron; coal for energy generation; minerals such as limestone, salt, and rare earth elements; gemstones like diamonds and rubies; and uranium for nuclear fuel.
Traditional flowsheets often rely on water for material transport and metal separation in concentrators. Dewatering is crucial post-recovery to prepare concentrate for sale and transport. With extensive experience, we optimize filtration circuits to meet transportable-moisture limits ("TML") for final concentrate moisture.
Many complex concentrates require second stage dewatering if filtration alone is unable to reach TML. We integrate drying into dewatering circuits when required to ensure that operations to do not ship excessive water and/or deleterious elements can be removed to increase total payables.
Through transportation and economic analysis, we help our customers understand the costs and complexity of shipping concentrates and how to allocate capital effectively to reduce operating costs. By taking a holistic end-to-end approach, this supports engineering and equipment procurement decisions.
Our projects evolve, enhancing our understanding, engineering precision, and cost accuracy. We guide clients through this journey, ensuring timely achievement of investment targets. Unlike traditional OEMs, we provide a dedicated contact for comprehensive support from start to finish.
Utilizing a decade's worth of data from labs and operations, coupled with observational analysis, we've created an AI model. It rapidly evaluates material "filterability" by examining their physical, chemical, and mineralogical traits. This assists in predicting costs for different filtration methods, aiding early decision-making and validating engineering feasibility.
To optimize testwork accuracy and quality control, we've launched our subsidiary, Canadian Critical Minerals Research, conducting all bench-scale tests for clients. Our process involves collaboration between technicians and engineering staff to integrate learning outcomes into project stages. Unlike other OEMs divesting in-house labs, we're heavily investing in our 3,000 sq. ft. facility in Kamloops, BC, ensuring comprehensive services.
We offer conceptual engineering services alongside initial testwork results to merge data into practical outcomes. Our process integrates sample data, mineral processing principles, and a mix of proprietary and standard equipment. These studies finalize major process elements, enabling estimation discipline.
For complex projects, longer-term pilot-plant testwork may be necessary to validate data over time due to sample variability. Our facilities can handle large sample volumes and equipment for onsite pilot studies. We also provide containerized and mobile test rigs for global deployment to customer sites.
Once the process flowsheet design is confirmed, we advance the project into a FEED study to improve estimate accuracy. This includes finalizing piping and instrumentation diagrams, equipment lists, and specifications for vendor engagement and procurement. With in-house engineering expertise, we also collaborate with trusted third-party consultants as needed.
With vast experience in managing large-scale capital projects across remote areas, our team has successfully built plants in numerous countries. We handle all project execution functions, including procurement, logistics, quality assurance, and more. Our personalized project management services add significant value, with our team often acting as owner’s
Operational Readiness is crucial for seamless handover of information from engineering to operations. Our OR phase includes thorough HAZID/HAZOP analysis and collaboration with vendors, ensuring a well-prepared workforce for day-to-day operations.
Upon delivery, we inspect facilities for compliance and authorize equipment installation. We oversee construction verification and assist with assembly as per specs. The commissioning team supervises dry commissioning to detect issues. Wet commissioning follows, transitioning to live operations with slurry feed for filtration.
After reaching steady-state operations, we support clients through the post-commissioning phase, known as the "valley of death." Our commissioning team remains in operational support roles for the critical first hundred days, ensuring a smooth transition with maximum impact on return of capital.
A single point of contact to supply full scope solutions through the project life-cycle.
Competency in the testing, design, and applications of traditional and novel technologies.
Effective working relationships with a diverse mix of vendors and sub-contractors to assemble the best project team.
Integration within the end-user personnel and processes to ensure unified understanding of scope and responsibilities.
Highly agile responsiveness to end-user requirements.
A boutique approach to project delivery.
Extensive start-up and commissioning capabilities and experience in remote jurisdictions.