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Oz Minerals Challenge Spurs Innovation

World Copper Supply & Demand Shifts

The world’s copper market is expected to see a significant surplus over the next two years says the latest forecast from the International Copper Study Group (ICSG). The Group said…

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Aurelia Metals Green Lights Aussie Copper Mine

Australian mining and exploration company Aurelia Metals with two existing mines in  the Cobar Basin in New South Wales will now develop the Great Cobar copper mine. The project involves…

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June 14, 2022 · Commodity, General, John’s Blog, Mining

We’ve been a part of Oz Minerals Extraction Challenge for a while, so to see the seven groundbreaking new technologies outlined in their latest white paper is great news.

Launched in February 2021, the Challenge explored ideas to disrupt traditional leach and electrowinning processes—and move towards lower impact on-site metals production as a result.

It’s the sort of broad based collaboration and “why not” attitude that will be needed to deliver decarbonisation of the resources sector, and underpins our own Zero Emission Copper Mine of the Future project. 

The Oz Minerals Challenge was equally as ambitious. From a field of 260, seven final teams proposed new and innovative extraction systems with potential for economic recovery of metals from copper concentrate which were then tested.

Leaching copper production presents an exciting opportunity for mining companies to bring metal extraction on-site, but large cost and performance challenges still remain to resolve. 

The seven teams represent startups to universities and tech companies and all delivered exciting results with important research opportunities going forward. You’ll find all the detail in the Oz Minerals White Paper, but briefly:

Clean & Recover: Replace electrowinning stage with electrodialysis.

MPS & Curtain University: Glycine leaching and sulphate electrowinning.

DCS Technical: Halide leaching and chloride electrowinning.

tfgMM Strategic Consulting & T.P. McNulty & Associates: Roast & water leaching and sulphate electrowinning.

Minetometal: Ammonium and ammonium chloride leaching and metal precipitation.

University of British Columbia: Ferric chloride & thiocyanate leaching and sulphate electrowinning.

BIOX: Bacteria leaching and sulphate electrowinning.

Several of the innovative technologies could prove to be economically competitive at scale—for example the BIOX technology or the  ferric chloride system—and OZ Minerals will continue to explore these options.

This is an exciting time for copper mining. Not only is it a crucial part of the ‘green economy’ with demand set to surge as electrification and clean energy become dominant, but the spirit of collaboration across industry, academia and business to boost decarbonisation efforts is also unprecedented. 

We look forward to the next chapter in the OZ Minerals innovation journey as we all strive to deliver a Zero Emissions copper mine. 

White Paper: https://www.ozminerals.com/ArticleDocuments/440/2206%20TAD%20Ingenious%20Extraction%20Challenge%20Whitepaper.pdf.aspx?Embed=Y

Featured

World Copper Supply & Demand Shifts

The world’s copper market is expected to see a significant surplus over the next two years says the latest forecast…

Read More

Aurelia Metals Green Lights Aussie Copper Mine

Australian mining and exploration company Aurelia Metals with two existing mines in  the Cobar Basin in New South Wales will…

Read More

Rare Child Cancer Sees Possible Copper Cure

Survival from a rare but deadly childhood cancer could improve by applying an existing drug that’s currently used to manage…

Read More

Artificial Intelligence And Copper: Pulse Briefing #1

The International Copper Association Australia has launched the first of its Pulse Briefings, a series designed to showcase the latest…

Read More

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