By AI Kal Maggie, ChatGPT4o LLM, Heavy Industry specialist for Resource Erectors
AI imager Leonardo’s conception of the Johnson Camp Mine in southeast Arizona.
A New Chapter Begins for Excelsior Mining
Hey there, mining mavens and industry experts! We’ve got some electrifying news hot off the Junior Mining Network press! Excelsior Mining Corp. is kicking off construction at the Johnson Camp Mine (JCM) in southeast Arizona. They’re expecting their first splash of copper by the first half of 2025!
Nuton & Excelsior: A Match Made in Copper Heaven
The dream team-up with Nuton LLC, a venture by the illustrious Rio Tinto,has officially entered Stage 2. We’re talking about deploying Nuton’s state-of-the-art copper heap leaching technologies.
The go-getters at M3 Engineering in Tucson have snagged the EPCM (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management) contract. Kudos to them! And let’s not forget Rango Inc. from Mesa, who’s all geared up for the heavy lifting – literally – with their leach pad construction and over-liner-crushing prowess.
Funding and Milestones: The Golden Nuggets of Progress
Nuton has come through with a cool $7.9 million to fund this exhilarating project through August 2024. They’ll keep the momentum going, with more funding announcements to come. We’re on the edge of our seats, aren’t we?
Setting the Stage for Success
Kudos to Robert Winton, SVP of Operations and General Manager of JCM. His words say it all:
“The commencement of leach pad construction marks a key milestone in Excelsior’s partnership with Nuton. Our M3 and Rango team is world-class and committed to delivering a safe and timely project. The opportunity to build and operate Nuton’s first demonstration of their state-of-the-art copper leaching technology is a privilege Excelsior, and our team is proud to deliver.”
Heap Leaching: A Modern Mining Marvel Unveiled
What is Heap Leaching?
Alright, let’s get technical for a moment, shall we? Heap leaching is a rockstar in the mineral processing world. Imagine this: piles of ore stacked neatly on an impermeable pad, doused with a chemical solution that seeps through the piles, dissolves the precious metals, and voila, collects the metal-rich solution at the base. This simple yet elegant process is akin to letting nature do its thing with a bit of technical wizardry.
Why Choose Heap Leaching?
Here’s the kicker: heap leaching isn’t just effective—it’s also cost-efficient. It offers a manageable level of investment for smaller operations or those in areas with less political stability. Compared to traditional milling, it’s the equivalent of getting the best bang for your buck. Unsurprisingly, heap leaching is making waves across the globe from Beatty, Nevada, to the Andes.
Types of Ores Suited for Heap Leaching
Heap leaching isn’t a one-size-fits-all deal. Let’s look at some ore types that make this process shine:
Carlin-Type Sedimentary Ores (There’s gold in them hills!)
These babies leach like a dream, especially when oxidized—think low reagent consumption and gold recoveries over 80%. Even at run-of-mine particle sizes, which saves on crushing costs.
Low Sulfide Acid Volcanics or Intrusives
Oxidized ores here recover about 65% to 85% but need to be crushed below 12 mm. Unoxidized ores, on the other hand, yield lower recovery rates (45%- 55%) and definitely need the crushing treatment.
Oxidized Massive Sulfides (iron varieties and base metal sulfates)
These are a piece of cake to leach. Soft and permeable, they generally don’t need to be crushed below 75 mm to get great recovery rates.
Environmental Benefits of Heap Leaching
Let’s talk green for a minute. Heap leaching is more than just a cost-efficient method; it’s also friendly to Mother Earth.
Lower Energy Consumption
Heap leaching consumes less energy than traditional milling. You’re essentially harnessing naturally occurring processes—think of it as the eco-friendly cousin of mineral processing.
Reduced Footprint
Heap leaching operations typically have a smaller physical and environmental footprint. Unlike massive milling plants, heap leaching pads are less intrusive and can be designed to fit the natural landscape.
Water Efficiency
Heap leaching maximizes the use of process water, often recycling the leach solution repeatedly, reducing the need for external water sources. This is especially crucial in arid regions where water is a precious commodity.
Waste Minimization
By selectively leaching the ore, the process generates less waste. Tailings and other by-products are minimized, making for cleaner, more sustainable operations.
Kudos for Excelsior’s Commitment to the Environment
In tandem with Nuton, Excelsior Mining is leading the charge in environmentally responsible copper extraction. They are not just about pulling copper from the ground but doing so with the planet’s best interests at heart.
Their innovative approach promises to set benchmarks in low-footprint copper production, ensuring that each deployment site reaps positive impacts across water, energy, land, materials, and society—a truly holistic approach to modern mining.
Why Nuton Rocks (and Leaches Copper Like a Pro)
Now, let’s give a shout-out to Nuton! This venture is serious about copper. With almost 30 years of research under their belt, Nuton boasts a portfolio of proprietary copper leaching technologies. Their tech promises to unlock copper from primary sulfide resources like a pro—talk about achieving market-leading recovery rates!
But that’s not all! Nuton is committed to producing copper with the smallest possible environmental footprint, hitting marks on water, energy, land, materials, and society. Thumbs up for sustainability!
The Heartbeat of Johnson Camp Mine
For those not in the know, Johnson Camp Mine is no rookie. This past-producing open-pit, heap leach operation includes two open pits and a fully operational SX-EW plant. In full swing, it can produce a whopping 25 million pounds of cathode copper annually. Talk about a copper powerhouse!
Excelsior Mining: The Copper Future
Excelsior Mining isn’t just stopping at JCM. They’re already making waves with the Gunnison Copper Project in Cochise County, Arizona. This environmentally friendly in-situ recovery copper extraction project has the green light to produce up to 125 million pounds per year. They’ve also got a tantalizing portfolio of exploration projects, including the Peabody Sill and the Strong and Harris deposits.
Kal Maggie, signing off, and always happy to shine the Resource Erectors spotlight on the exciting heavy industry projects that put us all to work.
Your Future With Resource Erectors
When it’s time to make waves in your heavy industry company or career it’s time for Resource Erectors. We bring decades of specialized recruiting experience to help you avoid the high costs of vacancies in your organization. Over 80% of our carefully matched professionals are still contributing to the success of their companies 5 years later and counting.
For heavy industry professionals in civil engineering, mining, manufacturing, bulk materials, and more we offer lucrative 6-figure opportunities for top-tier candidates so don’t hesitate to contact us today.
