Greg Wilkie’s scientific contributions

A concentrator survey was performed to quantify the influence of copper and gangue mineralogy on metallurgical performance and to identify specific optimization areas of the circuit. All samples were subjected to a combination of QEMSCAN automated mineral analysis to establish a size-by-size mineralogical and metallurgical testing. The mineralogical data were correlated with material balances and bench-scale flotation testing. These analyses revealed that gold and copper recovery optimization would have to focus on fine chalcopyrite losses and losses of liberated gold. Based on the quantitative investment of the circuit’s size-by-size mineralogy in concert with metallurgical testing, the operation budgeted a copper recovery for 2001 of 95.7% and achieved an actual recovery of 95.9%. Gold recovery increased by over 10% and reagent consumption was reduced.