Overview
The New Afton Mine process plant has been operational since 2012, consistently exceeding its nameplate capacity of 11,000 tonnes per day (tpd). A 2015 expansion added tertiary grinding and additional flotation capacity, enabling peak throughput of 16,420 tpd in 2017. The 2019 average throughput was 15,300 tpd, processing copper-gold ore through an advanced circuit featuring multiple recovery methods.
Key Process Stages
- Primary Crushing: FLSmidth 1,100 mm x 1,800 mm gyratory crusher reduces ROM ore to -150 mm
- SAG Milling: 8.5m x 4m Farnell-Thompson mill (5,220 kW) with double-deck screening (2.4m x 6.1m Deister screen)
- Ball Milling: 5.5m x 9.8m Farnell-Thompson ball mill (5,220 kW) with Krebs GMax-26 hydrocyclones
- Tertiary Grinding: Metso Vertimill 3000 (added in 2015) with Krebs hydrocyclones
- Flotation: Two-stage SFR cells + six 100m³ tank cells for rougher flotation, followed by regrind and cleaner circuits
- Gravity Recovery: Gekko inline pressure jig, Knelson concentrators for native copper/gold recovery
- Dewatering: Concentrate thickened to 55% solids, filtered to <9% moisture using two filter presses
Critical Data
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Design Throughput | 11,000 tpd |
| Peak Throughput (2017) | 16,420 tpd |
| 2019 Average Throughput | 15,300 tpd |
| SAG Mill Power | 5,220 kW (variable speed) |
| Ball Mill Power | 5,220 kW (fixed speed) |
| 2019 Gold Recovery | 79.43% |
| 2019 Copper Recovery | 83.47% |
| Processing Cost (2019) | $7.90 USD/t |
Tailings Management
The New Afton Tailings Storage Facility (NATSF) features five centerline raised dams with LLDPE geomembrane lining. Current capacity utilizes cyclone sand deposition, transitioning to thickened tailings in 2021. The facility includes extensive instrumentation with 69 vibrating wire piezometers and automated monitoring systems.
