Overview
The Côté Gold Project features a state-of-the-art mineral processing facility designed for 36,000 tonnes per day (tpd) throughput. The comprehensive circuit incorporates crushing, grinding, gravity concentration, cyanide leaching, and carbon-in-pulp (CIP) recovery to maximize gold extraction from ore with an average head grade of 0.98 g/t Au.
Key Process Stages
- Primary Crushing: 54″ x 75″ gyratory crusher reduces ROM ore to P80 140 mm at 2,143 tph
- Secondary Crushing: 1,250 hp cone crusher works in closed circuit with coarse ore screens
- Tertiary Crushing: 2.4m x 2.4m HPGR achieves P80 2.4 mm with 7,800 kW installed power
- Grinding Circuit: Two-stage system with 7.92m x 12.3m ball mill (16,000 kW) and vertical stirred mills (6,700 kW total) producing P80 100 µm product
- Gravity Concentration: Two parallel concentrators recover 23% of gold prior to leaching
- Cyanide Leaching: 30-hour residence time in two parallel lines of five 19.3m x 26.1m tanks
- CIP Recovery: Eight 450 m³ tanks operating in carousel mode with 22.5 tonnes of activated carbon each
- Electrowinning: Four 3.5 m³ cells recover gold from solution with 99.5% efficiency
- Cyanide Destruction: SO2/air process reduces residual cyanide to <2 mg/L
- Tailings Management: 55m diameter thickener increases slurry density from 50% to 60-62% solids
Critical Data
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Design Throughput | 36,000 tpd (1,596 tph) |
| Annual Processing Rate | 13.1 Mtpa |
| Power Requirement | 56.7 MW at full capacity |
| Overall Gold Recovery | 91.8% |
| Ball Mill Circulating Load | 300% |
| Leach Cyanide Concentration | 300 mg/L |
| Coarse Ore Stockpile Capacity | 20,157 t (live), 74,720 t (total) |
| Ramp-up Period | 10 months to design capacity |
Special Features
The circuit incorporates several advanced technologies including high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR), vertical stirred mills for fine grinding, and intensive cyanidation of gravity concentrates. The 83m diameter dome covering the coarse ore stockpile provides significant environmental benefits for dust and weather control.
Water and Reagent Management
The plant utilizes a closed water circuit with tailings water reclaim as the primary source. Cyanide management follows International Cyanide Management Code standards, with ISOtainers used for safe storage and handling. The reagent system includes dedicated areas for flocculant, sodium hydroxide, cyanide, and other process chemicals.
