Hatch provides extensive experience in the following mineral sands mining technologies:
Traditional spud mining to excavate dredges imposes limitations on mining depth, and the width of the mining face, for continuous mining. Hatch’s dredging technology utilizes winches and anchors deployed to greatly exceed the productivity normally gained from spud mining.
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) combined with Hatch-developed software, provides the technology necessary for the real-time tracking of a dredge in 3D. Deviations are quickly identified and corrected. For dual-dredge operations, the system monitors each dredge so the total resource is mined.
Hatch has developed a unique technique for scheduling the placement of mineral sand tailings. The technique controls the dynamics of tailings stacking to identify problems associated with deposit geology, stacking methods, mine design and equipment scheduling.
Heavy mineral recovery can be improved by understanding the distribution of heavy minerals in relationship to slimes in a deposit. Custom equipment minimizes heavy mineral losses from cutter throwback and mining inefficiencies. Hatch algorithms predict the amount of clay and the slimes contained within clay-lump oversize. The result is predictable concentrator feed and better mineral sands production.
Hatch offers a wide range of services in titania production, including support for R&D programs, new technology development, feasibility studies, process consulting, plant engineering, EPCM, environmental assessments and due diligence.
The technology areas we cover include:
- Dredge mining; floating mineral separations plant; beach sand and rock ilmenite roasting and beneficiation
- High-power smelting, high-purity iron production and TiO2 slag processing
- Slag upgrading to high TiO2 grades, steelmaking, ferrous and steel powder production
Challenges:
- Plant debottlenecking and capacity increase of production facilities with a minimum investment
- Improved operating efficiency
- The production of different grades of titanium oxide slag
Hatch skills and experience:
- Debottlenecking and optimization through statistical analysis, process modeling and dynamic simulation
- Green, brown and redfield projects
- Specialized process equipment design, including high-powered electric furnaces, high-capacity fluid bed systems, and complex fuel gas systems
- High-level process automation and computer control systems
- Operational readiness programs for fast ramp-ups and successful full-scale implementation of new technologies
