Normandy Ltd's Mt Leyshon gold mine which took part in the general Australasian industry survey.

A database of current gold plant practices, which has the potential to reduce processing costs by identifying process improvements in individual operations, is now available.

Developed by the Parker Centre as part of a three year AMIRA project on gold processing technology, the database allows the comparison of existing costs and practices with those of other operations, to improve efficiency and identify possible reagent savings.

The information for the database was sourced from a general Australasian industry survey of 44 gold mines, a Canadian industry survey conducted by CANMET and in depth benchmarking of selected unit operations. The database captures the extensive practical knowledge and experience out in the gold industry that is not usually written down or easily accessible to others.

Technical data and management philosophies are included in the database and the entire process from crushing and grinding through to tailings is covered. There is particular emphasis on the leach, carbon and elution/electrowinning circuits, including information on configuration and equipment, circuit profiles and sampling and analysis.

Detailed surveys on various aspects of carbon management and elution/electrowinning at sponsors' sites were used to benchmark these parts of the process. Plants can use the benchmarks to gauge whether they are at best practice (minimum cost, maximum efficiency) in these circuits.

For example, elution benchmarking of 14 gold mines using the same type of elution found the cost of sodium cyanide and sodium hydroxide additions varied from $35/tonne of carbon eluted to $755/tonne of carbon eluted. No obvious reason for this considerable difference could be identified, suggesting that some sites are overadding and could make significant savings by reducing reagent addition.

The database is available on-line and on CD-ROM, but only to the sponsoring companies at this stage. Documents such as flowsheets, equipment specifications, process control details, mineralogy reports and test methods can also be accessed. Non-sponsoring companies that also responded to the general Australasian industry survey have received summary and trend information.

For further information, contact
Mr Bill Staunton, tel: (08) 9360 2236, e-mail: staunton@central.murdoch.edu.au

By Ros Dilworth, Communications Officer, the Parker Centre.
First published in Process Magazine.