Overview
The Hope Bay processing facility utilizes a complex circuit combining gravity concentration, flotation, and cyanide leaching to recover gold from sulphide ore. The plant originally operated with one concentrating line (CL1) and was later expanded to include CL2, achieving a blended throughput of 51.1 t/h in 2019.
Key Process Stages
- Crushing Circuit: Three-stage crushing with Metso Nordberg C100 primary jaw crusher (P95 125mm), Metso C80 secondary crusher, and Remco 1530 VSI tertiary crushers
- Gravity Concentration: Falcon SB1350B batch concentrators (200G force) and Falcon C2000 continuous concentrators recovering 60-70% of gold
- Grinding: Outotec 15-04 ball mill (2.7m x 4.88m EGL, 450kW) in closed circuit with Cavex 250CVX20 cyclones (P80 150µm target)
- Flotation: Nine 5m³ Metso RCS-5 cells with PAX collector, achieving 15% mass pull at 90% recovery
- Intensive Leaching: Gekko ILR 2000 batch reactors (12-16hr cycles) with 98.5% recovery at 20% CN- concentration
- Continuous Leaching: Six horizontal CILR vessels with 30hr retention time at 5,000-6,000 mg/L CN-
- Resin Adsorption: G-Rex columns with AuRIX®100 or Purogold™ MTA9920 resin achieving 2,100-2,800 mg/L loading
Critical Data
| Parameter | Design | 2019 Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Throughput (t/h) | 55 (Doris), 43 (Naartok) | 51.1 (blended) |
| Overall Recovery | 96.8% | 81.6-84.7% |
| Gravity Recovery | 69.4% | 60-65% |
| Flotation Tail Grade | 0.36 g/t | 0.93 g/t |
| Leach Residue Grade | 6.9 g/t | 9.3 g/t |
| Ore SG | 2.8 | |
Madrid Expansion
The new Madrid plant (2020) features a 4,000 t/d SABC circuit with:
- Single-stage primary crushing to P80 100mm
- Gravity concentration and intensive cyanidation
- 30-hour CIL circuit with carousel operation
- 88% projected LOM recovery
- 1,460,000 t/a capacity
Technical report and processing history
The following archived source profiles have been consolidated here to preserve the project’s processing history and study context.
Hope Bay Project — 2020 Technical Report
Hope Bay Project — 2020 Technical Report
| Company | TMAC Resources Inc. |
| Mine | Hope Bay Project |
| Date | 2020 |
| Region | Hope Bay, Nunavut, Canada |
| Commodities | Gold |
| Mine Type | Underground |
| Throughput | ~100 t/h (Doris), 4,000 t/d (Madrid Design) |
| Mine Life | Life of Mine (Madrid) |
| Annual Production | 1,460,000 t/a (Madrid Design) |
| Status | Operating (Doris), Development (Madrid) |
Executive Summary
This NI 43-101 Technical Report details the recovery methods for the Hope Bay Project, operated by TMAC Resources Inc. The current operating plant at the Doris deposit utilizes a combination of gravity concentration and flotation to recover gold from sulphide ore. The process includes primary and tertiary crushing, ball mill grinding, and intensive leaching of gravity concentrates using Gekko Inline Reactors (ILR). Flotation tailings are sent to the Tailings Impoundment Area (TIA), while concentrates undergo regrinding and continuous leaching before resin adsorption and electrowinning.
The report also outlines the design for the new Madrid Process Plant, intended to process ore from the Madrid, Naartok, and other deposits. This facility is designed for a throughput of 4,000 t/d using a SABC grinding circuit, flotation, and Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) processing. The Madrid plant aims for an overall recovery of 88.0% over the life of mine, with specific attention paid to managing preg-robbing carbonaceous matter found in certain ore bodies.
Key operational challenges identified include dust management in the crushing circuit, oxygen demand for leaching and detoxification, and resin supply chain constraints. The report highlights ongoing improvement plans for 2020, including the integration of a solution polishing circuit, replacement of tertiary screens, and optimization of the flotation and grinding circuits to increase availability and recovery rates.
Processing Profile
- Crushing: Primary Jaw (Metso C100/C80), Secondary Jaw, Tertiary VSI (Remco 1530)
- Milling: Ball Mill (Outotec), SAG Mill (Madrid Design)
- Gravity: Falcon (SB1350B, C2000), Gekko (IPJ, ISP, ILR)
- Flotation: Metso RCS-5 Tank Cells
- Leaching: Intensive Leach (ILR), Continuous ILR (CILR), Carbon-in-Leach (CIL)
- Adsorption: Resin (G-Rex), Activated Carbon (Madrid)
- Electrowinning: Yes
- Smelting: Yes
Reports
- reports/2020_TMAC_HopeBay
Website: https://www.agnicoeagle.com/English/operations-and-projects/exploration-projects/hope-bay/default.aspx
Report Date: 2020
Region: Hope Bay, Nunavut, Canada
Project Status: Operating (Doris), Development (Madrid)
Commodity: Gold
Throughput: ~100 t/h (Doris), 4,000 t/d (Madrid Design)
Mine Life: Life of Mine (Madrid)
Mine Type: Underground
Ore type: Sulphide
Hope Bay Project — 2015 Technical Report
Hope Bay Project — 2015 Technical Report
| Company | TMAC Resources Inc. |
| Date | 2015 |
| Region | Hope Bay, Canada |
| Commodities | Gold |
| Mine Type | Underground |
| Throughput | 170 tph |
| Status | Development |
Executive Summary
The Hope Bay Project Technical Report by TMAC Resources Inc. details the process plant design and operation based on the Gekko Systems SC0540 Engineering Study Final Report dated October 2014. The facility is designed to recover gold from ore sourced initially from the Doris North underground mine, with subsequent sourcing from Madrid and Boston mines. The plant is configured to handle a maximum annual mine tonnage of 730,000 tpa with a nominal crushing capacity of 170 tph.
The processing circuit is divided into two main sections: Python and Concentrate Treatment Plant (CTP). The Python section includes primary and secondary crushing, continuous gravity concentration using InLine Pressure Jigs, grinding, and flotation. The CTP section handles concentrate regrinding, intensive cyanidation in batch and continuous reactors, resin absorption, and electrowinning. The overall process plant recovery is targeted at 91% over the life of mine.
Processing Profile
- Crushing: Primary Jaw Crusher, Secondary Jaw Crusher, VSI
- Milling: Primary Mill, Regrind Mill
- Gravity: InLine Pressure Jig (IPJ), Batch Centrifugal Separators
- Flotation: Rougher/Cleaner configuration, Agitated cells
- Leaching: Intensive Leach Reactors (Batch & Continuous), Cyanidation
- Recovery: Resin Absorption (AuRIX®100), Electrowinning
Reports
Website: https://www.agnicoeagle.com/English/operations-and-projects/exploration-projects/hope-bay/default.aspx
Report Date: 2015
Region: Hope Bay, Canada
Project Status: Development
Commodity: Gold
Throughput: 170 tph
Mine Life:
Mine Type: Underground
Ore type:
