Overview
The Kudz Ze Kayah processing plant in Yukon, Canada is designed to process 2.0 million tonnes per annum of polymetallic ore to produce separate copper, lead (HPM), and zinc concentrates. The facility features a sequential flotation circuit with crushing, grinding, and advanced thickening/filtration systems to handle the challenging northern climate conditions.
Key Process Stages
- Crushing Circuit: 900mm grizzly scalping, primary crusher operating at 446 t/h capacity with 12-hour coarse ore stockpile (135t ROM bin)
- Grinding: Open circuit 5.79m x 5.49m SAG mill (2.7MW) with 12mm trommel, closed circuit 4.72m x 7.32m ball mill (2.7MW) targeting P80 of 70µm
- Copper Flotation: 6×38m³ rougher cells, regrind to 30µm (SMD 355kW), 3-stage cleaning with scavenger
- Lead (HPM) Flotation: 5×38m³ rougher cells, regrind to 30µm, 2-stage cleaning
- Zinc Flotation: 6×38m³ rougher cells, regrind to 35µm, 3-stage cleaning
- Concentrate Handling: High-rate thickeners (9m for Cu/Pb, 14m for Zn), vertical plate pressure filters (85m²) targeting 9-9.5% moisture
- Tailings Management: 20m thickener with dual 467m² pressure filters producing 13% moisture cake
Critical Data
| Parameter | Design Case | Average Case |
|---|---|---|
| Throughput | 2.0 Mt/a (245.5 t/h) | 2.2 Mt/a (270 t/h) |
| Plant Availability | 93% | |
| Head Grades (Cu/Pb/Zn) | 1.12%/2.33%/6.52% | 0.82%/1.62%/5.52% |
| Concentrate Grades | 25% Cu/52% Pb/52% Zn | 24% Cu/50% Pb/50% Zn |
| Metal Recovery | 84% Cu/76% Pb/90% Zn | 82% Cu/72% Pb/88% Zn |
| Power Consumption | 44 kWh/t (692 GWh LOM) | |
| Process Water Demand | 757 m³/h (with 2-hour dam capacity) | |
Special Features
- Climate-adapted building design with heated parapets and internal downspouts
- Containerized HPM concentrate handling for secure transport
- Dual-filter tailings system with 12-hour emergency pond capacity
- Automated lime slaking (Vertimill™) and reagent distribution systems
- SCADA-controlled operations with online particle size analysis
Technical report and processing history
The following archived source profiles have been consolidated here to preserve the project’s processing history and study context.
Kudz Ze Kayah Property — 2020 Technical Report
Kudz Ze Kayah Property — 2020 Technical Report
| Company | BMC Minerals (No.1) Limited |
| Mine | Kudz Ze Kayah |
| Date | 2020 |
| Region | British Columbia, Canada |
| Commodities | Copper, Lead, Zinc |
Executive Summary
The Kudz Ze Kayah Process Plant is designed to process Run-of-Mine (ROM) ore at a rate of 2.0 Mtpa to produce separate copper, lead, and zinc concentrates. The plant operates based on average ore comminution properties and feed grades, with a design throughput of 245.5 tph. The process flowsheet includes crushing, stockpiling, grinding, and sequential flotation circuits for copper, lead, and zinc recovery.
Key processing equipment includes a 5.79 m SAG Mill and a 4.72 m Ball Mill in a closed circuit with hydrocyclones. Flotation is conducted using mechanically agitated forced air conventional cells in a sequential order (Copper, Lead, Zinc), with regrind mills for each concentrate. Concentrates are thickened and filtered using vertical plate pressure filters to achieve target moisture contents before storage and loadout.
Tailings are dewatered by thickening and pressure filtration before disposal to a Class A Waste Storage Facility. The plant design considers a 93% availability and includes provisions for future gold gravity recovery. Reagent requirements include lime, collectors, depressants, and frothers, with storage and mixing facilities located within the Process Building.
Website: https://bmcminerals.com/
Report Date: 2020
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Project Status:
Commodity: Copper, Lead, Zinc
Throughput:
Mine Life:
Mine Type:
Ore type:
Kudz Ze Kayah Property – NI 43-101 Technical Report
Kudz Ze Kayah Property – NI 43-101 Technical Report
| Company | BMC Minerals (No.1) Limited |
| Date | 2019 |
Executive Summary
The Kudz Ze Kayah Process Plant has been designed to process ROM ore at a rate of 2.0 Mt/a to produce separate copper, lead, and zinc concentrates. The plant is capable of processing at 270 t/h based on average ore comminution properties and average plant feed grades, with the process rate varied depending on ore grade. The design case considers the 95th percentile of copper and lead grades, 99th percentile of zinc grade, with 80th to 85th percentile of comminution data. The plant maintains a design availability of 93% after ramp-up, with standby pumps provided for essential equipment.
The process flowsheet employs sequential flotation to recover copper, lead, and zinc in that order. Each circuit includes pre-float, rougher, and cleaner stages with regrinding of concentrates to achieve optimal liberation. Copper circuit achieves 84% recovery to a 25% Cu concentrate, lead achieves 76% recovery to a 52% Pb concentrate, and zinc achieves 90% recovery to a 52% Zn concentrate. The grinding circuit consists of an open circuit SAG Mill (5.79m diameter x 5.49m EGL) and a Ball Mill (4.72m diameter x 7.32m EGL) in closed circuit with cyclones, targeting a P80 grind size of 70 µm.
Processing Overview
- Throughput: 2.0 Mt/a (Design), 2.2 Mt/a (Average)
- Availability: 93%
- Commodities: Copper, Lead, Zinc
- Process: Sequential Flotation (Cu → Pb → Zn)
- Grind Size P80: 70 µm
- Power Consumption: ~44 kWh/t
Key Processing Circuits
Copper Circuit
- 6 x 38 m³ rougher cells
- Pre-float cleaner
- Regrind to P80 30 µm
- 3 cleaner stages with scavenger
- Recovery: 84%
- Concentrate Grade: 25% Cu
Lead Circuit
- 5 x 38 m³ rougher cells
- Pre-float cleaner
- Regrind to P80 30 µm
- 2 cleaner stages with scavenger
- Recovery: 76%
- Concentrate Grade: 52% Pb
Zinc Circuit
- 6 x 38 m³ rougher cells
- Pre-float cleaners (2 x 16 m³)
- Regrind to P80 35 µm
- 3 cleaner stages with scavenger
- Recovery: 90%
- Concentrate Grade: 52% Zn
Website: https://search.open.canada.ca/qpnotes/record/dfo-mpo%2CDFO-2022-00048
Report Date: 2019
Region:
Project Status:
Commodity:
Throughput:
Mine Life:
Mine Type:
Ore type:
Kudz Ze Kayah Property — 2017 Technical Report
Kudz Ze Kayah Property — 2017 Technical Report
| Company | BMC Minerals (No. 1) Limited |
| Mine | Kudz Ze Kayah Property |
| Date | 2017 |
| Commodities | Copper, Lead, Zinc, Gold, Silver |
| Throughput | 2.0 Mt/a |
| Mine Life | 10 years |
| Status | Development |
Executive Summary
The 2017 Technical Report outlines the proposed processing plant design for the Kudz Ze Kayah Property, operated by BMC Minerals (No. 1) Limited. The facility is designed to process Run-of-Mine (ROM) ore at a nominal rate of 2.0 megatonnes per annum (Mt/a) from both open pit and underground sources. The primary objective is the production of separate copper, lead, and zinc concentrates, along with tailings suitable for waste storage or underground backfill.
The process flow involves crushing, grinding, and sequential flotation. The crushing circuit utilizes a primary jaw crusher, followed by a semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill and a ball mill in closed circuit with hydrocyclones. The flotation circuit is designed for sequential recovery of copper, lead, and zinc using agitated forced air conventional cells, including rougher, cleaner, and scavenger stages with regrind mills for concentrates.
Tailings management includes thickening and vacuum filtration, with a portion of the dewatered tailings directed to a paste fill plant for underground backfill production. The plant is designed for a 10-year mine life with a processing availability of 93%. Predicted average recoveries over the life of mine are 81.5% for copper, 58.6% for lead, and 86.0% for zinc.
Website: https://search.open.canada.ca/qpnotes/record/dfo-mpo%2CDFO-2022-00048
Report Date: 2017
Region:
Project Status: Development
Commodity: Copper, Lead, Zinc, Gold, Silver
Throughput: 2.0 Mt/a
Mine Life: 10 years
Mine Type:
Ore type:
