Nickel Heap Leaching Study - International Nickel Study Group

The International Nickel Study Group(INSG)Nickel Heap Leaching StudyReport Available Now• Published in 2010, this is a 72-page comprehensive analysis ofheap leaching in nickel production.• Commissioned by INSG and produced by Malachite Consultingof Australia• Provides up to date information on all aspects of heap leaching• Summarizes the various hydrometallurgical processes appliedto nickel leaching• Identifies current and future trends• Analyzes the economic and environmental impact of the use ofheap leaching, including CO2 emissions• Reviews the intellectual property aspects of the technology• Highlights several nickel projects using heap leaching• Includes information on challenges and risks

The Report's ContentsEXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..........................................................................5NICKEL HEAP LEACHING STUDY........................................................6SCOPE OF REVIEW ................................................................................... 6INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 7IMPORTANCE OF NICKEL ........................................................................... 7ECONOMIC TRENDS .................................................................................. 7NICKEL MARKET ...................................................................................... 8TECHNOLOGY .......................................................................................... 8FUTURE TECHNOLOGY TRENDS ................................................................. 9GOVERNMENT POLICY ............................................................................ 10GEOLOGY AND RESOURCES ............................................................. 12BACKGROUND ON NICKEL LATERITES ...................................................... 12CONTROLS ON LATERITISATION ............................................................... 12FORMATION CHEMISTRY ......................................................................... 13LATERITE STRUCTURES .......................................................................... 14PYROMETALLURGICAL PROCESSES ............................................... 15FERRONICKEL SMELTING ........................................................................ 15NICKEL PIG IRON ................................................................................... 16HYDROMETALLURGICAL PROCESSES ............................................ 18CARON PROCESS ................................................................................... 18HIGH PRESSURE ACID LEACHING ............................................................ 19ATMOSPHERIC LEACHING (USING H 2 SO 4 ) ................................................ 21ATMOSPHERIC CHLORIDE LEACH PROCESS (USING HCL) ......................... 22ATMOSPHERIC LEACH PROCESS (DIRECT NICKEL) ................................... 24SULPHATION ATMOSPHERIC LEACHING .................................................... 25HEAP LEACHING (USING EITHER H 2 SO 4 , HCL OR HNO 3 ) .......................... 26Crushing, Agglomeration and Conveying .................................... 29Stacking and Heap Construction .................................................. 29Heap Leaching and Solution Management ................................... 29Metal Recovery ............................................................................... 30Solution Neutralisation................................................................... 30Mixed Hydroxide Precipitation ...................................................... 30Residue Storage and Evaporation ................................................ 30Reagents .......................................................................................... 31Utilities and Services ...................................................................... 31Sulphuric Acid Plant ....................................................................... 31TECHNOLOGY COMPARISON ................................................................... 32

HEAP LEACHING DEVELOPMENTS ................................................... 33BRIEF HISTORY ...................................................................................... 33INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ...................................................................... 33HEAP LEACHING PROJECTS .................................................................... 37European Nickel - Çaldağ Project ................................................. 37European Nickel - Acoje Project .................................................... 39Minara Resources – Murrin Murrin ................................................ 44HEAP LEACH PROJECT STATUS .............................................................. 48CHALLENGES AND RISKS ........................................................................ 50Geotechnical ................................................................................... 51Processing ...................................................................................... 51Environmental ................................................................................. 53HEAP LEACHING IN THE WET TROPICS ..................................................... 54ECONOMIC & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF HEAP LEACHING .... 57IMPACT OF GRADE AND MINERALOGY ...................................................... 57ECONOMICS ........................................................................................... 58Heap Leaching Assumptions......................................................... 58HPAL Assumptions ........................................................................ 58Summary Economics ..................................................................... 59Operating Costs .............................................................................. 60Capital Costs ................................................................................... 60Project Cost Comparison ............................................................... 61ENVIRONMENTAL.................................................................................... 62CO 2 EMISSIONS ..................................................................................... 63NICKEL LATERITE PROJECT FAILURES ........................................................... 65FERRONICKEL ........................................................................................ 65CARON .................................................................................................. 65HPAL ................................................................................................... 66Bulong Nickel Operation ................................................................ 66Cawse Nickel Operation ................................................................. 67Murrin Murrin Operations............................................................... 68Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation .................................................... 70NOMENCLATURE……………….………………………………...…….…..72

Order FormEmail insg@insg.orgor(fax to + 351 21 356 7039)To INSG, Rua Almirante Barroso 38 - 5, Lisbon 1000-013, PortugalPlease SupplyNo. of Copies:Nickel Heap LeachingPrice €1500 for companies from Member countries*Price €2250 for companies from Non Member countriesCONTACT DETAILSFamily NameFirst NameCompanyTitleAddressTel Email FaxPAYMENTBy credit card (VISA or Mastercard)By cheque - made payable to ‘INSG’Card NoCardholder Name (as on card)Expiry Date Security Code (last 3 digits on back of card)SignatureThe buyer agrees to take all necessary steps to observe the confidentiality of the Report, and furtheragrees not to reveal any of the contents of the Report, in whole or in part, to any third party without theprior written agreement of the International Nickel Study Group.Signed _________________________________________________________________* Member Countries: Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan,Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, Sweden, United Kingdom.