SILVER ONE REPORTS ON METALLURGICAL TEST RESULTS USING INNOVATIVE SEPARATION AND
NON-TOXIC, CYANIDE-FREE TECHNOLOGY CAN POTENTIALLY DOUBLE SILVER RECOVERIES AND SIGNIFICANTLY CUT LEACHING TIMES
Highlights
- Preliminary metallurgical testing using EPS’ proprietary solutions have significantly increased Candelaria’s leach pad silver recoveries, exceeding 100% in comparison to previous testing using cyanide leaching (see Company’s news release of
May 21 , 2019). - The sample tested consists of leached oxides from LP1, crushed to April 19, 2018 and
May 21, 2019 , and figure 1 for the location of LP1). - Additional short-term (5-15 minutes) milling to 550 and 110 microns (0.55 and 0.11 mm) increases the leach pad recoveries to 59.9% and 64.4%, respectively.
- The use of the trademarked TNS technology has positive ESG implications, notably because it reduces environmental impact. Unlike cyanide use, this process consumes minimal water, and no toxic effluents are produced. Furthermore, the residues (tailings) are inert and non-acid generating.
- Additional testing on material from both the existing leach pads and fresh ore is planned for the second half of 2024.
Background
EPS has developed a novel solid-liquids separation technology (TNS™) and leach processes to recover metals. EPS extensive research and development has resulted in constant improvements and adaptations that have accumulated 40 patents, producing, in the process, formulations suitable to separate metals from complex oxide and refractory mineralized materials. TNS™ technology was designed for the application of liquid solids separation in dewatering of mine waste and is also very effective in separating hydrocarbons in oil-sands. The TNS™ process, combined with its unique cyanide-free leach technology especially formulated to extract metals, has demonstrated to recover more silver and gold than traditional leaching methods.
The traditional silver cyanide leaching typically takes several hours to several days using agitated leaching techniques. However, EPS’ innovative technology uses patented chemistry to extract metals in less time than an agitated leaching system. It also separates liquids from solids, enabling dry-stacked tailings; it works with coarse particles (≤2 mm or 2000 microns material in Candelaria’ s case) and is not inhibited by the presence of clays. Thus, the process potentially reduces capital and operating costs while increasing metal recovery.
The TNS technology has been tested on materials from mine sites from various parts of the world and piloted successfully in dewatering…
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