GEOCOAT®
GEOCOAT® offers a unique approach to bacterial leaching (also referred to as "biooxidation" or "bioleaching") by combining the low capital and operating costs of heap leaching with the high recoveries generally associated with other oxidation methods (roasting, pressure leaching, or stirred-tank biooxidation).
GEOCOAT® is applicable to treatment of refractory sulfide gold concentrates, and to copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc, and polymetallic base metal concentrates. The GEOCOAT® process is also applicable to the treatment of concentrates containing both gold and base metals.
GEOCOAT® is particularly suited to the treatment of "dirty" concentrates and low grade concentrates, which may attract high smelter penalties and/or low NSRs, or are unacceptable for smelting altogether.
GEOCOAT® has proven successful in treating high levels of arsenic in concentrates, converting it to an environmentally stable form of ferric arsenate, which meets stringent international standards for disposal.
The competitive advantages of GEOCOAT® include:
- Reduced capital costs – 50-70% lower than other oxidation processes
- Reduced power consumption – requires only 15-20% of consumption of pressure oxidation or stirred tank oxidation
- Ability to economically treat low-grade ores, allowing reduction in cut-off grade and increasing ore reserves
- Conversion of arsenic to a non-leachable and environmentally stable form, suitable for tailings disposal and meeting stringent international standards
- Simple flowsheet using well proven unit operations
- High sulfide oxidation and gold recovery
- Robust and flexible, tolerant of power outages, variations in sulfide content
- Reduced water demand
- Rapid engineering and construction
- Simple to expand by increasing pad size and conveyor length