| Company | Hard Creek Nickel Corporation |
| Date | 2011 |
| Commodities | Nickel |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Throughput | 87,000 tpd (Full), 43,500 tpd (Phase 1) |
| Mine Life | 28 years |
| Annual Production | 15.8 Mtpa (Phase 1), 31.3 Mtpa (Phase 2) |
| Status | Development |
Executive Summary
This 2011 Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines the recovery methods for the Hard Creek Nickel project, detailing a significant shift from the 2010 Wardrop PEA. The original plan contemplated a conventional crush-grind-flotation flowsheet producing a 4% Ni concentrate for a hydrometallurgical refinery. However, updated metallurgical work has eliminated the need for the refinery, allowing the project to produce a saleable concentrate directly. The impact on the concentrator design is minimal, with the crushing, grinding, and rougher flotation stages meeting similar design criteria, while the cleaner flotation section has been adjusted.
A key feature of the project is the phased expansion approach. The mine will commence operations at 50% of full capacity, processing 43,500 tpd for the first five years, before expanding to the nominal 87,000 tpd thereafter. This strategy allows for capital efficiency and operational flexibility during the initial production phase. The plant throughput averages 15.8 Mtpa for the first five years, increasing to 31.3 Mtpa for years 6-21, and settling at 29.9 Mtpa for years 22-28 as low-grade stockpiles are utilized.
The process plant utilizes a SAG-Ball Mill-Pebble crusher (SABC) circuit with two parallel grinding trains and four parallel rougher flotation trains. The flotation circuit includes a single cleaner train in three stages, utilizing large tank cells to improve capital and power efficiencies. The circuit is designed to handle two specific mineralization domains, with pit optimization favoring softer material to manage the harder grinding indices of the 104 domain. The flowsheet includes concentrate thickening, filtration, and a high head tailings pumping system.
Operational Details
Processing Profile
Reports
Website: https://gigametals.com/projects/project-overview/
Report Date: 2011
Region:
Project Status: Development
Commodity: Nickel
Throughput: 87,000 tpd (Full), 43,500 tpd (Phase 1)
Mine Life: 28 years
Mine Type: Open Pit
Ore type:
