Don Emms, project manager and mill superintendent for Rubicon Minerals, said: “Gekko’s experience gives us great confidence in the successful design and operation of this critical process, ensuring we continue a responsible and environmentally sustainable development.”
After months of collaborative planning, Gekko Systems designed the cyanide detox system specifically to meet the needs of the Phoenix gold project. The plant incorporated many design features gleaned from 30 years’ experience by Randy Agius, principal detox consultant at Gekko Systems (now retired).
Gekko’s cyanide detox system uses the SO2/oxygen (INCO) process to destroy cyanide in the plant’s leach tails, and is capable of reducing it to less than 1ppm weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide. The main reagents are liquid sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxygen.
Ben Adaszynski, process engineer for North American projects at Gekko Systems, explained: “Oxygen is used in place of the more conventional air compressors, resulting in lower power consumption, better process flexibility and reduced overall operating costs.”
Nick Katsikaros, head of the Gekko Detox Team, added: “The low power consumption and reduced operating cost is realised through the use of advanced VSA oxygen generation technology supplied by PCI gases. The units’ low power consumption and maintenance costs, combined with high oxygen gas utilisation, result in a projected payback period of less than six months compared to conventional air blowers.”
The supplied plant included the cyanide destruction tank, liquid SO2 handling, storage and dosing systems, oxygen generation and dosing system and full process control instrumentation.
