Mako

Project Category: Life of Project Support
Client: Resolute
Location: Senegal
Capacity: 2 Mt/a
Commodity: Gold

Scope of Work

Orway has been involved with the project over its full life cycle.  Over time, the scope has included comminution circuit selection and design.  After installation, Orway assisted with commissioning, project ramp up, long term optimisation projects including reviews, comminution surveys and online Remote Optimisation Consulting and Coaching (MillROC). 

Flowsheet

The comminution flowsheet consisted of primary crushing (Metso C130 Jaw Crusher), single stage SAG mill (8.5m Ø x 6.1m EGL, 8MW) with pebble crushing (2 off Metso HP200 cone crushers).

Notable Features

The Mako ore is extremely hard and abrasive.  Orway selected the single stage SAG circuit, novel for such hard ore to minimise capital and operating costs.  This was only possible because of Orway’s vast experience with design of this style of circuit over a long period of time. 

Orway’s input, through reviews and MillROC, helped train the local work force (most on whom were not experienced in mining) to operate the circuit under best industry practices.  This also provided a continued source of project knowledge with changes in staff.

Outcome

The operation continues to perform very well.  The project ramped up to design within seven weeks on design ore.  Since achieving design, the circuit consistently maintained a throughput of about +15% of design, with energy and media consumption also in line with the design.