Technology
A fusion of low-cost mining methods and innovation...
Hydrometallurgical Extraction
Innovation Mining has developed a unique non-cyanide-based hydrometallurgical formula for use in it's operations.
The unique formula is sustainable, reusable, eco-friendly, and offers a low-cost, alternative to conventional formulas.
The Innovation Process involves the dissolution of the valuable metals into aqueous solution. The water-based, chemical reagent, dissolves and bonds with precious metals to create a stable metal complex which is extracted from solution using conventional methods such as electrowinning, carbon, or ion exchange.
It is a simple process and the solution operates at near-neutral pH levels, and ambient pressure and temperature. The technology is effective on most oxide or sulfide ores, concentrates, or tailings. For a detailed video presentation on the technology please click here.
Chemistry
The Company's patent-pending and novel formula is created by combining several chemical compounds with water and a unique electrochemical process.
This unique combination produces a powerful and stable oxidizing solution that rapidly dissolves gold into solution. The gold is then extracted using conventional methods such as carbon, ion exchange resins and electrowinning. After gold recovery, the barren solution is then regenerated for reuse by employing a unique diamond-based electrochemical cell technology.
The Innovation formula functions at a low to mid pH, and under ambient temperature and pressure. The process is simple to use and provides similar recoveries and leach kinetics to cyanide, yet is benign, non-toxic, and reusable.
The Innovation process is unique from all the current hydrometallurgical alternatives due to its environmentally friendly nature, simplicity and low-cost.
This low-cost, sustainable closed-circuit process provides extended reusability of both the reagent and the process rinse water resulting in no effluent or required tailings compound.
The Innovation formula can be incorporated into both heap/vat leach circuits for unground or ground low-grade coarse ores, or agitated tank leaching for finely ground high-grade ores and concentrates. The formula offers the following attributes:
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Non-toxic and safe to handle
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Reduced permitting process
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Effective recovery from complex gold/copper oxides
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Potential high reusability quotient
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Effective in low pH applications
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Effective on pressure-oxidation applications
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Can be used in areas where cyanide is prohibited
Gold Recovery
Gold is recovered from pregnant (gold bearing) solution by the process of using activated carbon or electrowinning. The use of carbon is common throughout the gold mining sector.
Following leaching, the activated carbon is mixed with the pregnant leaching solution. The gold is adsorbed onto the surface of the activated carbon, now considered loaded.
The gold can then be desorbed from the loaded carbon in a process known as elution (this step is often referred to as stripping), which produces a high gold concentration solution from which gold can be electrowon.
For recovery using electrowinning, an electric current is passed through the solution causing solid gold to plate out on steel wool or stainless-steel cathodes. Cathode Reaction - Gold Deposition Gold is electrolytically displaced from the pregnant solution or pregnant eluate and deposited on the cathode surface.
Operational Flow Sheet - Vat & Heap Leaching
Simplified Operation - Heap & Vat Leaching
With the reducing gold grades worldwide, bulk low-grade mining and heap leaching technology is vital for the future of the gold mining sector. The unique Innovation formula compliments this vital application and unlocks the value of environmentally sensitive and smaller-scale deposits, and abandoned tailings.
The main advantages of heap leaching technology are, as follows:
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lower CAPEX and OPEX
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rapid payback
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no tailings disposal
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simple design and equipment
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less environmental concerns
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quick construction phase
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lower energy and water requirements
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applicable to low-grade ore, tailings and waste stockpiles
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Currently, HL technology is successfully used to extract gold, silver, copper, nickel, uranium, and even iodine.
