:: BHPB OK's Combo Cu Process at Spence

BHP Billiton will build an innovative copper processing combination designed to concurrently accommodate sulphide and oxide ores as part of its new US$990 million Spence project in Chile. Development includes the new open-cut mine, a 50,000 tpd crushing circuit, two leach pads, two solvent extraction (SX) plants and an electrowinning circuit. The orebody includes copper sulphide and oxide ores, which will be mined simultaneously and processed separately in a highly innovative approach.

Chemical leaching of oxide ores and bacterial leaching of sulphide ores will be utilised at separate pads, with solutions then being sent to separate oxide and sulphide SX plants. Output from the SX plants will be rejoined and treated in a single electrowinning plant to produce copper cathode. Spence is planned to produce 200,000 tpy cathode during its 19 year life, with first production scheduled for Q4 2006.

Proven and probable ore reserves for the Spence orebody are estimated to be 310 million tonnes of copper ore with an average total grade of 1.14% at a cut-off of 0.30%.

© World Mining Equipment 2004