Development and application of new technology for the treatment of complex massive sulphide ores case study—Faro lead/zinc concentrator—Yukon

Faro is one of the largest lead/zinc mines in North America. Since start-up in the late 1960ʹs the concentrator has processed more than 80 million tonnes of ore. The mine and concentrator are located 35 km north of the town of Faro, central Yukon, in the heart of the Anvil Range plateau. The Anvil Range plateau hosts a series of six fairly large orebodies, spread over a 40 km distance. Three of the ore bodies (Faro 1, 2 and 3) have been mined out. Two of the remaining three ore bodies (Vangorda and Grum) have been treated for the past six years. The ores are massive, finely-disseminated sulphides, which are difficult to treat. Because Grum and Vangorda ores do not respond well to the treatment methods used for Faro ores, a new method had to be developed and introduced in the plant. In the early 1980ʹs, detailed laboratory studies were conducted to identify flowsheet and reagent schemes that would provide satisfactory plant metallurgical results. Using a new approach, based on a parametric model and Lakefieldʹs data base of metallurgical know-how, a treatment process was introduced in the plant for treatment of Vangorda ore in 1986, and for the more refractory Grum ore in 1990. This one is currently being processed. aper describes the development and application of the improved process for different ore types.