Iron ore majors ramp up supply even as China faces challenges
Iron ore is one of the year’s worst performing major commodities, slumping by almost a quarter as China’s property crisis drags on.
Researchers from the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute and representatives from Anglo American, Aeris Resources, Eriez Flotation Division, Glencore, Hudbay Minerals, Newcrest Mining and Newmont have formed the Collaborative Consortium for Coarse Particle Processing Research, with the goal to develop improved energy efficiency for mineral processing operations.
In a press release, the parties involved said that the consortium will run initially for five years and will tackle multidisciplinary aspects of coarse particle processing such as flotation, comminution, classification, and equipment design and process chemistry.
It will also focus on global challenges such as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation of human-made climate change.
According to Newmont’s director of processing, Ronel Kappes, the company has identified coarse particle recovery (CPR) as a key enabling technology to focus on to improve future processing efficiencies.
“The UQ CPR Consortium project is an important step in technology development in order to leverage future CPR applications,” Kappes said.
Eriez Flotation Division’s Eric Wasmund said his company believes this partnership is key for the future of mining operations as Eriez has proven that coarse particle flotation is a technology capable of improving mineral recoveries, reducing power and water consumption and producing safer tailings.
