A feasibility study has been completed on
behalf of the Iran Zinc Mines Development Co. (IZMDC) to establish a
new refinery, utilising whole-ore leaching and state-of-the-art hydrometallurgical
processing, at Zanjan in the north-west of Iran. The refinery will receive
run-of- mine ore from the Angouran Mine which is located about 110 km
south west of the city of Zanjan, and has been designed to process 473000t/yr
of blended Angouran ores to produce some 100 000 t/yr of metal at a
mimimum grade of 23 % zinc.
The feasibility study covered the engineering of the
upgraded mine and processing facilities and infrastructure required
to support the refinery, an economic evaluation, capital and operating-cost
estimates, an environmental-impact assessment, a tailings study, plant
foundations and support in the execution of a special study to minimise
project costs and maximise local content.
In parallel with the feasibility study, BATEMAN managed
a geological and mining study undertaken by SRK Consulting to define
the resource for the upgrade of Angouran Mine and collaborated with
Parsikan of Iran on the modification and hot and cold commissioning
of an existing purification demonstration plant. This plant was converted
to solvent extraction for test work to validate the processing technology
and determine sizing and capacities of the new refinery.
The feasibility study envisages that the ore will
be hauled to the plant using an existing road that will be upgraded
as a part of the development, after it has been crushed at the mine
and conveyed to a load-out bin designed for chute loading the trucks.
The ore will then be dumped on stockpile pads at the plant and fed to
the plant in a controlled manner for blending.
Metallurgical testwork by a sub- contractor supported
by two technology suppliers indicated that zinc recoveries of 92 % may
be achieved and extracted zinc may be converted to a high-purity cathode
containing 99,99 % zinc. The ore will therefore be processed using modern
solvent- extraction and electrowinning methods into special high-grade
(SHG) zinc metal for export. Currently, zinc from Angouran is produced
as high-grade zinc and the SHG status will open up a wider market than
that currently available. Lead concentrates will also be extracted,
using flotation techniques, for sale to lead smelters in Iran. Tailings
will be pumped in slurry form to a nearby pond.
Environmentally, the plant has been designed to comply
with internationally accepted standards as well as those of the Islamic
Republic of Iran. The environmental impact assessment, carried out by
a sub-contractor, covered Angouran Mine, the haulage roadway, the zinc
refinery and the tailings ponds.
IZMDC was established in 1998 for developing zinc
mines and zinc-related industries through the utilisation of Iranian
and international resources. It has been appointed by the Iranian government
as operator of Angouran Mine and has the right to exploit the oxide
ore in the deposit for a fixed, but renewable period.
For further information, please contact Richard Klue,
BATEMAN Business Manager, Lead & Zinc, on
+27-11-899-2651 or email: base@batemanengineering.com
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