曼托维蒂堆浸-溶剂萃取-电积厂的工艺改进

曼托维蒂(Mantoverde)是一家堆浸-溶剂萃取-电积厂,投产于1995年12月份,每年产铜42 130t,矿石处理量540万t.该厂铜产量稳步增长,已于2002年达到57 290t.预计到2003年可处理铜矿石850万t,产铜60 000t.该厂已经对堆浸工艺实施了一些改进.主要工艺改进有矿堆高度、废石粒度、冲洗率和浸出周期,另外改善了矿堆排水设计和溶液管理系统.第一次废石堆浸操作开始于1999年,铜产量为1 922t.第二次废石堆浸操作开始于2002年初,铜产量为2 805 t.铜的废石堆浸产量将随着时间增加到24000t.本文详述了矿石堆浸工艺较之原工厂设计所做的主要改进以及主要的废石堆浸操作参数.

Process improvements at Mantoverde heap leach-SX-EW plant

Mantoverde is a heap leach-SX-EW plant that was commissioned in December 1995 at a production rate of 42,130 tons of copper per year and 5.4 million tons of ore per year.The copper production has steadily increased,reaching 57,290 tons in 2002.The forecast copper production for 2003 is 60,000 tons for an ore treatment rate of 8.5 million tons.Several improvements in the heap leach process have been implemented.The main process improvements are related to the optimization of heap height,particle size,irrigation rate and leach cycle,in addition to a better heap drainage design and a solution management system.A first dump leach operation was started in 1999 at a production rate of 1,922 tons of copper.A second dump leach operation was started in early 2002 at a production rate of 2,805 tons of copper.Dump leach production will be increased over time to as much as 24,000 tons of copper.The main heap leach process improvements,as compared to the original plant design,as well as the main dump leach operating parameters are discussed in this paper.