THEMAC Resources' 2013 feasibility study for the Copper Flat project in New Mexico follows the process Quintana Minerals ran in the 1980s, updated with current equipment, to produce copper and molybdenite concentrates.
The Copper Flat Project Form 43-101F1 Technical Report Feasibility Study, New Mexico, USA, was prepared by M3 Engineering & Technology Corporation for THEMAC Resources Group Limited, with an effective date of October 7, 2013 and an issue date of November 21, 2013. According to the report's summary, recent metallurgical testing (MAG, 2012) confirms the original testwork and the operating data from the Quintana Minerals operation. The ore is of medium hardness, has no deleterious elements or adverse processing factors, responds to copper-molybdenum flotation, and gives concentrates that thicken and filter readily.
Critical Data
| Parameter | Value | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report effective date | October 7, 2013 | Not applicable | Feasibility study by M3 Engineering for THEMAC Resources Group Limited |
| Primary crushing | Gyratory, to below 175 | mm | Covered coarse ore stockpile |
| SAG mill | 32 x 14 | ft | Pebble crushing on SAG discharge |
| Ball mill | 24 x 35 | ft | Closed circuit with hydrocyclones |
| Flotation feed | 80% passing 140 | µm | Not applicable |
| Rougher flotation | Six 9,000 ft³ cells | Not applicable | Bulk copper-moly concentrate |
| Cleaners | Eight 180 ft³ cleaners, six 180 ft³ cleaner scavengers, two column cells | Not applicable | After concentrate regrind |
| Products | Copper concentrate and molybdenite concentrate | Not applicable | Moly bagged in 2 t super sacks |
| Tailings | Lined surface impoundment | Not applicable | At the site of the Quintana facility |
Overview
The process for recovering copper and molybdenum is very similar to the one Quintana used successfully in the 1980s, with upgrades to reflect current process technology. Ore is crushed and ground finely, floated to concentrate the sulphides, reground and cleaned into copper and molybdenum concentrates, then thickened and filtered. Tailings go to a lined surface impoundment.
Key Process Stages
Crushing. A gyratory crusher reduces run-of-mine ore to less than 175 mm, and the coarse ore is conveyed to a covered stockpile.
Grinding. Ore reclaimed from beneath the stockpile feeds a 32 by 14 ft SAG mill. Oversize pebbles are removed from the SAG discharge, crushed and returned. A 24 by 35 ft ball mill in closed circuit with hydrocyclones delivers slurry at 80% passing 140 µm to flotation.
Bulk flotation. Six 9,000 ft³ rougher cells produce a bulk copper-moly concentrate. The concentrate is reground in a mill closed with hydrocyclones, then cleaned and scavenged in eight 180 ft³ cleaner cells, six 180 ft³ first cleaner scavenger cells and two copper second cleaner column cells.
Molybdenum separation. The moly circuit has a separation rougher stage, a first cleaner, a concentrate regrind and second and third cleaners. The final copper concentrate combines the tails of the copper-moly separation and moly first cleaner stages.
Concentrate handling. Copper concentrate is thickened and filtered in an automatic pressure filter, stockpiled under cover and hauled by highway truck. Molybdenite concentrate from the third cleaner column is filtered, dried in a Holoflite-type hot oil dryer and bagged in 2 t super sacks for trucking.
Additional Interesting Data and Summary
Fresh water comes from off-site wells, through two booster stations, to a fresh water tank that supplies fire water, potable water, gland seals, dust control and process uses such as column flotation, reagent mixing and the moly plant. Reclaim water is recovered from the thickeners, the tailings storage facility, pit dewatering, storm water and ore moisture, and is collected in a reclaim reservoir with make-up from the fresh water tank.
The new tailings storage facility will be built on the site of the old Quintana facility. Other planned infrastructure includes turn lanes on Highway 152, regrading of the access road, relocation of about 2,500 ft of road within the new tailings footprint, and railcar loading facilities.
In summary, the 2013 Copper Flat feasibility study restarts a proven copper-molybdenum flowsheet: SAG and ball milling to 140 µm, bulk flotation with regrind and column cleaning, and a separate moly circuit, on ore the testwork shows to be free of processing complications.
Key Processes
- Gyratory crushing and covered coarse ore stockpile
- SAG milling with pebble crushing
- Ball milling with hydrocyclones to 80% passing 140 µm
- Bulk copper-moly rougher flotation
- Concentrate regrind, cleaning and column cells
- Copper-moly separation and moly cleaning
- Pressure filtration of copper concentrate
- Hot oil drying and bagging of molybdenite
- Lined tailings impoundment
Source: Copper Flat Project Form 43-101F1 Technical Report Feasibility Study, New Mexico, USA, M3 Engineering & Technology Corporation for THEMAC Resources Group Limited, effective date October 7, 2013.
Technical report and processing history
The following archived source profiles have been consolidated here to preserve the project’s processing history and study context.
Copper Flat Project — 2012 Mineral Resource Statement (Form 43-101F1)
Copper Flat Project — 2012 Mineral Resource Statement (Form 43-101F1)
Company: M3-PN110087.000
Date: 2012-01-23
Report ID: M3-PN110087.000 Revision 0
Executive Summary
This document outlines the mineral resource statement for the Copper Flat Project, dated January 23, 2012. The report details the proposed recovery methods for copper and molybdenum (moly) minerals, which are largely based on established processes utilized by Quintana in the 1980s but with upgrades to incorporate current mineral processing technology. The proposed process involves crushing and grinding the ore to a fine size, followed by flotation to concentrate sulfide particles. Subsequent steps include regrinding and cleaning to develop copper and moly concentrates, followed by thickening and filtering of these concentrates. Tailings will be disposed of in a lined surface impoundment.
A prefeasibility study for the Copper Flat project is currently in progress, and the recovery methods described herein will be further elaborated upon in the forthcoming prefeasibility report. The primary commodities targeted are copper and molybdenum.
Website: https://themacresourcesgroup.com/copper_flat_mine/evironment-sutainability
Report Date: 2012
Region: New Mexico
Copper Flat Project — 2018 Technical Report
Copper Flat Project — 2018 Technical Report
| Company | Not Specified |
| Date | 2018-12-11 |
| Region | Not Specified |
| Commodities | Copper, Molybdenum, Gold |
Executive Summary
This technical report outlines the recovery methods for the Copper Flat Project, focusing on a conventional sulfide flotation mill design. The facility is designed to process 30,000 dry short tons per day of sulfide ore to produce copper and molybdenum concentrates. The process includes primary crushing, SAG and ball mill grinding, gravity recovery for gold, and a multi-stage flotation circuit for copper and molybdenum separation.
The crushing circuit utilizes a primary gyratory crusher followed by a coarse ore stockpile. Grinding is achieved through a semi-autogenous (SAG) mill in closed circuit with a pebble crusher and a ball mill in closed circuit with hydrocyclones. Gravity separation using Knelson-type concentrators is integrated to recover gravity-recoverable gold prior to flotation.
The flotation plant consists of bulk copper-moly flotation followed by a dedicated molybdenite flotation circuit. Final concentrates are thickened, filtered, and dried before shipment. Tailings are managed via hydrocyclone classification for dam construction and water recycling. The project has an estimated mine life of approximately 12 years.
Processing Profile
Website: https://themacresourcesgroup.com/copper_flat_mine
Report Date: 2018-12-11
Region: Not Specified
Project Status:
Commodity: Copper, Molybdenum, Gold
Throughput:
Mine Life:
Mine Type:
Ore type:
Copper Flat Project — 2012 Technical Report
Copper Flat Project — 2012 Technical Report
| Company | Not Specified |
| Date | 2012-08-22 |
| Commodities | Copper, Molybdenum |
Executive Summary
The Copper Flat Project is a sulfide ore processing facility designed to produce copper and molybdenum flotation concentrates. The design basis establishes a throughput of 25,000 dry short tons per day over a mine life of approximately 11.75 years. The processing plant utilizes a conventional sulfide flotation mill circuit to extract the target minerals from the ore.
The process involves primary crushing using a gyratory crusher, followed by grinding in a semi-autogenous (SAG) mill and a ball mill circuit. The ground ore is then processed through bulk copper/molybdenum flotation circuits, followed by a molybdenite separation circuit. Final concentrates are thickened, filtered, and dried before shipment.
Water management includes reclaim water systems and fresh water supply from offsite wells. Reagents such as lime, xanthates, and frothers are used throughout the flotation and dewatering processes. The tailings are managed in a disposal facility with hydrocyclones used to produce sands for dam construction.
Website: https://themacresourcesgroup.com/copper_flat_mine
Report Date: 2012-08-22
Region:
Project Status:
Commodity: Copper, Molybdenum
Throughput:
Mine Life:
Mine Type:
Ore type:
