Heap Leaching

When: Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 September 2010
Where: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Presenter: Graeme Miller, Miller Metallurgical Services

Introduction

This course is designed for engineers and other professionals working or interested in heap leaching – specifically of copper and other acid system species including uranium.  Previous modelling experience is not required but a reasonable understanding of some of the physical and chemical processes will be a significant asset.

The course is not designed to provide basic process and engineering information on heap construction and operation.  However it is designed to provide fundamental understanding of the physical and chemical rate determining processes that underpin the operation.  From this basic understanding the effects of ore and leach variables impacting on construction and management decisions will be developed.  A significant part of the course also involves consideration of the ore and heap geotechnical characterisation and the impacts that this information can have on the design and operating decisions.

Course Presenter

Graeme Miller has more than 30 years experience as a design and managing process engineer for various consulting and contracting companies.  Major plants designed and commissioned include those for copper, uranium, cobalt, nickel, zinc, coal and diamonds.

Graeme has an industry respected reputation for understanding the interactions between mineralogy, leaching and the resultant solution chemistry.  He has extensive experience in designing, building, commissioning and improving heap leach operations in Australia, South America, Asia, South Africa and the Middle East. 
Graeme has worked with several large engineering consulting groups on heap leaching, and now operates Miller Metallurgical Services with clients world-wide.
Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• use new tools in the data analysis of column and field heaps
• understand and appreciate the physical and chemical rate drivers in leaching
• use geotechnical test results in assessing the performance of heap leaching
• understand and implement the operating management decisions that are based on a proper appreciation of the field reality.
• Undertake targeted test programmes for developing necessary data for scale up.
• Scale up from column to field heaps with appropriate factors and safety margins for unknowns
• Have the requisite knowledge to be able to select equipment and systems to provide minimum risk to field outcomes.

Course notes and reference papers

The course will be documented for the participants via:

• Presentation notes
• Reference papers relating to specific aspects of the presentation
• Reference lists and suggested further reading

Additionally the overall course will be documented:

• A CD ROM with the presentation (s) and other references and papers.

Draft Course Outline

Discussion forum which will include a short presentation on “Sampling for heap leach optimisation” by Francis Pitard.

Fee: A$1,980 (See the registration form for cancellation policy).
Includes: A copy of the presentation, reference list and selected papers, lunch and refreshments. Register early as previous courses have been popular. The course may not proceed if sufficient registrations have not been received by 6 August 2010.
Further information: see http://www.impc2010.org/workshops.asp or contact:
David Pollard | Email: metplant@internode.on.net | Telephone: +61 8 8362 5545 | Facsimile: +61 8 8362 0126