Following is the second of three hand outs from the annual meeting; it is similar to the one I have already posted. Note, this was issued on behalf of Bateman by Baird's Communications.
Bateman brings cost-saving microwave technology to global mining industry.
Johannesburg, September 9, 1999
A revolutionary new process which uses microwaves to unlock gold, copper
and other metals from refractory or hard to recover ores is being brought
to commercial production by Bateman Project Holdings (Bateman).
The microwave technology offers cost savings and more effective metal
recovery at operations mining difficult and/or sulphide ore bodies. It
can also make commercially viable those mineral reserves which have
previously been rejected as uneconomic because of the difficulties of
extraction.
The basic technology was developed in Canada by EMR Microwave
Technologies. EMR has run pilot plants successfully for a number of
years and has now joined forces with Bateman to commercialise the
applications in minerals processing.
Both companies are excited about the prospects for the technology in the
world's mining countries and are already in discussion with a number of
mining houses.
The microwave technology is particularly suitable to the extraction of
metals from what are known as refractory ores, or ores where those metals
are not directly recoverable due to the association of other elements
such as sulphur and arsenic.
Refractory gold ores are commonly encountered around the world and in
1996 produced about a quarter of the world's total gold output. In
future this process could increase the recovery of gold from these ores
by making them more amenable to processing.
Refractory ores are not commonly found in South Africa, except in the
Barberton area which produces a small proportion of the Republic's gold.
Bateman CEO John Herselman said that the technology could have
significant impact in southern Africa in the processing of ores
containing platinum group and base metals and heavy mineral sands. Here
the application of this technology to sulphide flotation concentrates to
replace historic roasting would have huge potential.
Herselman said the EMR investment fitted in perfectly with Bateman's
strategy of investing in new niche technologies in its areas of expertise
which offer long term rewards.
"We believe this has huge potential as part of our technology portfolio.
It will enhance the group's competitive edge in acquiring future business
while simultaneously being an attractive direct investment," he said.
"We see a whole new suite of minerals treatment emanating from this
microwave technology." said EMR president James Tranquilla. "The
technology's applications were truly global and we have mining companies
interested in Canada and the US, in South America, Australia, and
Europe."
Tranquilla said that EMR had kept the process quiet until recently to
keep it away from competitors while international patents were taken out,
and to investigate its further potential.
"We are the only company that has this technology ready for commercial
use. A conservative estimate is that we are at least three years ahead
of any competitor in the development and application of these
technologies in the mining industry."
The microwave process comes in at the extraction stage, when ore has been
brought to the surface for treatment.
The equipment required for minerals processing applications will
essentially be conventional. It is easy to adapt designs to maximise the
energy efficiency of microwaves and handle the feed stocks. Microwave
equipment is well proven with a long life span, simple to maintain and
easily meets environmental safety standards," said the group.
Although it is a high-energy microwave process, it uses less electricity
than other extraction methods. For example it would offer significant
cost savings when preparing sulphide gold-bearing ore for cyanide
leaching compared to autoclaves and roasters.
The process is also environmentally friendly in treating sulphidic
refractory ores.
The combination of large reductions in both capital and operating costs
means potentially very significant savings in production costs.
While this technology is not applicable to all ores, the results in
difficult to extract ores can be impressive. In tests on a Mexican ore
in which both gold and silver were trapped, with at least 50 percent of
the gold unrecoverable by cyanide leach, the microwave treatment resulted
in close to 100 percent gold recovery".
The process is completely safe. The industrial use of microwave energy
is in at least its third decade of worldwide application and is widely
used in ceramics, pharmaceutical and chemical synthesis, glue and rubber
curing and the sterilisation and incineration of hazardous materials.
The joint venture will bring commercial applications of microwave
technology to the mining industry.
Bateman will provide engineering expertise in establishing a much larger
pilot plant than the 20 tonne per day unit on which test work has been
conducted. Large mining companies have to treat up to 3000 tonnes of ore
per day.
"Together we will produce a practical operation which meets the
requirements of the mining industry" Herselman said.
"Bateman brings to the joint venture an understanding of the mining
industry, while EMR contributes the knowledge of microwave technology.
"We will jointly provide the technology that allows mining houses here
and around the world to tackle deposits that were previously out of
reach."
Issued on behalf of Bateman by Baird's Communications
For further information, please contact
Dr. John Herselman, CEO, Bateman Project Holdings, tel (011) 899 2544
Michael Acott, Baird's Communications, tel (011) 886 2440 |
