The Mina Ministro Hales Project is a 50,000-tonnes per day (tpd) open pit mine that will process ore in a separate conventional concentrator (SAG Mill and balls) with a stand-alone roaster and with an acid and effluent treatment plant near the new concentrator. This new mine is one of four strategic projects to ensure Codelco’s future leadership in the copper mining industry.
The project includes:
- Primary crushing
- An overland conveying system reaching 2,900 metres in length
- Stockpiling for coarse ore with a processing capacity of 50,000 tonnes
- Conventional grinding, including a 36-foot-long SAG mill
- Pebbles crushing
- Two 22-foot ball mills
- Cycloning
- Primary flotation
- Two vertimills
- First and second cleaning
- Tailings thickening and transportation
- Concentrate thickening
- Filter plant
In the roasting area there will be a dome with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes for concentrate storage, a roaster capable of 450,000 tonnes per year, an acid plant, an effluent treatment plant, a calcine storage system and a pneumatic system for calcine transport.
Hatch is providing the detailed engineering, procurement and construction support services for the conventional concentration plant with a capacity of 50,000 tpd. Hatch previously provided the basic engineering.
The project also includes a study of the existing Chuquicamata smelter and refinery facilities.
Technical optimization of the concentrator plant has resulted in improved availability and utilization.
