RUBICON Minerals Corporation has successfully commissioned and formal accepted Gekko Systems’ Cyanide Detox System for its Phoenix Gold Project in Red Lake, Ontario, Canada. Gekko designed the system specifically to meet the needs of the Phoenix project.
Gekko is an Australian mineral processing technology company specializing in cyanide destruction, modular plant technology and gravity separation. The Ballarat, Victoria-based company is committed to providing cyanide detox systems with best practice environmental and financial sustainability.
Rubicon Minerals is an emerging gold producer focused on extracting the maximum recovery of resources with the lowest possible carbon footprint.
“Gekko’s experience gives us great confidence in the successful design and operation of this critical process ensuring we continue a responsible and environmentally sustainable development,” said Rubicon’s project manager and mill superintendent Don Emms.
After months of collaborative planning, Gekko’s system for the Canadian operation incorporated many design features gleaned from 30 years’ experience by Gekko Systems’ principal detox consultant Randy Agius, who has now retired.
The Cyanide Detox System uses the proven SO2/Oxygen (INCO) process to destroy cyanide in the plant’s leach tails and is capable of reducing it to less than 1ppm weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide. The main reagents are liquid sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxygen.
Gekko’s process engineer for North American projects Ben Adaszynski said, “Oxygen is used in place of the more conventional air compressors resulting in lower power consumption, better process flexibility and reduced overall operating costs.
“The low power consumption and reduced operating cost is realised through the use of advanced VSA oxygen generation technology supplied by PCI Gases. The unit’s low power consumption and maintenance costs, combined with high oxygen gas utilisation, result in a projected payback period of less than six months compared to conventional air blowers,” said Gekko Detox Team head Nick Katsikaros.
The supplied plant included the cyanide destruction tank, liquid SO2 handling, storage and dosing systems, oxygen generation and dosing system and full process control instrumentation.