Pilot Plant Test Work

Rio Tinto is evaluating the Resolution Copper deposit located in Arizona. The main interest for this project is copper, with a secondary value in molybdenum. The principle objectives of this project were to:

• Construct a composite and assess the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the sample.
• Conduct limited metallurgical laboratory test work to confirm the performance for two flowsheets, namely a bulk circuit and selective circuit.
• Prepare pilot plant feed material, and operate a pilot plant to evaluate continuous metallurgical performance of both flowsheets.
• Produce pilot plant bulk concentrates for subsequent copper-molybdenum separation testing.
• Produce pilot plant flotation products for testing by other vendors.
• Produce pilot plant products for environmental testing.