Comminution - Ausenco

Comminution
Minerals processing

Comminution
Ausenco is a leading global provider
of engineering and project management
services to the resource and energy sectors.
We combine ingenuity with insight to deliver
effective end-to-end solutions for our clients.
Our professionals offer expertise across every
aspect of the resource and energy sectors
— in areas including mineral processing;
pipelines; transportation systems; ports and
terminals; infrastructure; and conventional,
renewable and alternative energies. We’re also
experts in optimising performance through
tailored operations and maintenance solutions,
and in providing environmental and
sustainability strategies that deliver benefits
for projects, communities and the environment.
We’re skilled in every phase of the project
lifecycle. From initial concept through to
operation, our people can assess, plan, cost,
design and construct ingenious solutions
that add value and support your return
on investment.
Ausenco is recognised for our level of
expertise in all aspects of comminution.

Lumwana Copper Project,
North Western Province, Zambia
Solutions for the full project lifecycle
Our experience and expertise in developing
effective comminution solutions for our clients
sets us apart from the rest.
At Ausenco, we offer quality services for each
comminution project, including high-level
process engineering expertise, management
of feasibility studies, and complete services
through trusted alliances and joint ventures.
We also have extensive experience in delivering
large EPC and EPCM projects and have the
ability, knowledge and expertise to manage
our clients’ projects on their behalf, in a timely
manner and within the allocated budget.
Our clients know that an EPCM contract with
Ausenco will ensure that their project is
managed consistently and carefully to meet
their needs.
World-class comminution methodologies
Ausenco is recognised for our high level of
expertise in all aspects of comminution, from
initial test work program development through
all stages of study to design, construction
supervision, start-up, commissioning and plant
optimisation.
Ausenco personnel have a wide range of
experience in conventional stage crushing
and SAG milling circuit designs, and are at
the forefront of modelling and engineering of
comminution circuits based on high pressure
grinding rolls (HPGR) technology.
Our people also have extensive experience in
the determination of mill power requirements
and mill sizing including large mills with
gearless drives.
We can offer our clients a range of comminution
services over the full project lifecycle and a
global network for design and delivery including:
• sample selection, metallurgical test
work program design, management and
results interpretation
• consulting:
• process modelling and simulation
(JKSimMet and in-house power model)
• independent review of process designs
• review of existing operations and
performance enhancement
• energy efficiency assessments
• trade-off options, optimisation and circuit/
technology selection studies:
• SAG
• HPGR
• stage crushing
• scoping, prefeasibility and feasibility studies
• basic and detailed design
• construction support
• commissioning assistance
• operator training and operations support.
Additionally, we are experts in the
application of various ore characterisation
methodologies including:
• JKSimMet
• JKDWT
• SMC
• SPI
• Bond
• Starkey.

Our experience
Project
Sepon Copper Project
Location
Laos, South East Asia
Client
Oxiana Resources Limited
Year
2008
Description
The Sepon Copper Project uses
a patented copper leaching
process comprising crushing,
grinding in acid, acidic
flotation, pressure oxidation
and a solvent extraction
electrowinning circuit.
Ausenco’s scope was for
the full EPCM for the project.
The grinding circuit comprises
a 2 MW variable speed
single-stage grate discharge
ball mill operating in closed
circuit with hydrocyclones,
with a capacity of 1.34 Mt/y.
The circuit is designed to scrub
and grind the copper-rich clay
ore to a P80 of 106 μm. Milling
is conducted in a warm acid
recycle solution to avoid
excessive dilution of the
copper tenor in subsequent
leaching. The mill internals are
clad with SAF 2205 and rubber
lined to protect the carbon
steel shell and end plates.
Project
Cadia East Project
Location
New South Wales, Australia
Client
Newcrest Mining Ltd
Year
2010–2011
Description
Ausenco designed a new
comminution circuit for the
existing concentrator to allow
for the treatment of much
harder ore. We created an
innovative circuit incorporating
High Pressure Grinding Rolls
(HPGR) technology prior to the
Semi-Autogenous Grinding
(SAG) mill to improve efficiency
and increase throughput of
the concentrator.
For this upgrade, Ausenco
was awarded Contractor of
the Year from the 2012
Annual Australian Mining
Prospect Awards.
Project
Lumwana Copper Project
Location
North Western Province,
Zambia
Client
Equinox Minerals
Year
2006–2008
Description
Located in the North Western
Province of Zambia, Lumwana
is the largest copper project of
its kind in Africa.
Ausenco’s scope included the
design, supply, construction
and commissioning of the
20 Mt/y copper concentrator
including associated on-site
and off-site infrastructure,
water and waste-management
systems, dams, diversion
channels, and associated
facilities. This project uses
a SAB circuit with pebble
recycle, using a gearless drive
18 MW SAG mill and a gearless
drive 16 MW ball mill.
To learn more about our comminution experience, contact us via
email business.development@ausenco.com or visit our website www.ausenco.com
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