Glencore Technology’s IsaMill™ technology has been selected by Sumitomo Metal Mining Pogo LLC for their Pogo Mine operation in the US state of Alaska.
IsaMill™ has a proven track record of improving metal recovery and energy efficiency. It will be implemented at the Pogo Mine’s Inline Leach Reactor (ILR) circuit, where it will finely grind the ILR residue from 240 microns to a product (P80) of 25 microns to improve gold recovery in the downstream leaching process.
Glencore Technology’s Process and Business Development Manager – Americas, Greg Rasmussen, said IsaMill™ was developed to be much more energy efficient than alternative grinding technologies providing improved sustainability outcomes for mining operations around the world.
“Our technology has been successfully used commercially in concentrator plants for over two decades,” he said.
To ensure accurate scale-up, the Pogo Mine utilized the IsaMill™ Signature Plot procedure supported by a certified commercial laboratory. IsaMill™ Signature Plot tests are globally recognized in determining the required energy parameters for fine / ultrafine grinding of ores using the technology. They are also used to accurately size and design IsaMill™ grinding circuits across the world.
“This, along with a successful operational history of the IsaMill™, gave Pogo Mine personnel confidence that the technology can perform the duty required,” Mr Rasmussen said.
Pogo Mine is located northwest of Delta Junction, Alaska. The mine is operated by Sumitomo Metal Mining Company and is a Joint Venture between Sumitomo Metal Mining Company and Sumitomo Corporation with 85% and 15% ownership shares respectively. Final Permits and Authorizations were issued for the Pogo Mine Project in December 2003. Mine construction was completed in 2006 and commercial production was achieved in April 2007. The mine produces approximately 330,000 ounces of gold annually and maintains a workforce of more than 300 direct employees and an additional 150 contractors.
About Glencore
Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 90 commodities. The Group’s operations comprise of over 150 mining and metallurgical sites, oil production assets and agricultural facilities.
With a strong footprint in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, Glencore’s industrial and marketing activities are supported by a global network of more than 90 offices located in over 50 countries.
Glencore’s customers are industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, oil and food processing. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. Glencore’s companies employ around 181,000 people, including contractors.
About Glencore Technology
Headquartered in Australia, Glencore Technology utilise a global network to develop and market leading metallurgical processing technologies for the benefit of our customers around the world.
Our technologies provide critical value-add solutions that transform raw commodities – such as copper, lead, nickel and zinc – into the purest metals efficiently and sustainably. Many of these technologies have been developed and proven at our own sites, like ISASMELTTM and IsaMILLTM, which were pioneered by Mount Isa Mines in the 1970s and helped revolutionise mining and smelting processes all over the world.
Our approach is premised on a technology partnership to provide a full product and service offering, including process flow design, engineering, equipment supply, commissioning and operational expertise, and ongoing process and maintenance support.