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EnviroGold Global Unveils New Mining Technology Ushering a New Era of Sustainability in the Industry.

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Mining, a significant industry, is also a major contributor to waste production. To put it into perspective, a 2019 report revealed that the world’s 3,500 large-scale mining operations churn out a staggering 100 billion tonnes of solid waste each year. This waste, which includes tailings, waste rock, and other byproducts from mineral extraction and processing, is a pressing environmental concern. 

For instance, in gold mining, heap leach mining is the common method used. In this process, crushed ore is piled into large heaps, and a cyanide solution is sprayed over the heap to dissolve the gold. However,  99.99% of the heap becomes waste, as for every troy ounce of gold (approximately 31 grams), over 31 tons of tailings are generated, even at 100% recovery of gold. 

These immense, toxic piles can reach heights of up to 100 meters and cover entire mountainsides. Properly managing these tailings is crucial due to their environmental impact and the space they occupy. Reprocessing mine tailings and implementing technologies like automation can also minimise operational inefficiencies, maximise production, and reduce emissions.

Reprocessing can also help monetise other valuable metals in mining waste and tailings. Several methods are currently used in the industry, but most have serious shortcomings that render them unsuitable. For instance, bioleaching utilises microorganisms like bacteria to extract metals from low-grade ores and waste materials. However, this method has several shortcomings, including slow recovery, sensitivity to the environment, limited applicability and high operating environment. 

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However, technological advancements pave the way for more sustainable metal extraction and recovery approaches. EnviroGold Global Limited, a technology company revolutionising the global mining industry, recently updated its plans to showcase and commercialise its proprietary leaching technology, the NVRO Clean Leach Process.

The company has taken significant strides by selecting a manufacturer to construct the processing unit to demonstrate the NVRO Clean Leach Process. This unit will be showcased to potential customers, including major global mining companies. EnviroGold has also received a cost-effective quote for constructing and containerising the unit, notably lower than the initial estimates. With these developments, EnviroGold anticipates commencing commercial demonstrations of the NVRO Clean Leach Process in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Recognising the interest of major mining companies, EnviroGold has decided to install the processing unit at a centralised industrial facility near Brisbane, Australia. This strategic move will streamline the testing process, allowing the company to serve multiple clients efficiently. EnviroGold aims to eliminate regulatory hurdles associated with mine site development and reduce the turnaround time between mining company demonstrations by opting for a central location.

In this setup, customer tailings will be transported to the NVRO demonstration facility, processed using the NVRO Clean Leach Process, and the residues will then be transported back to the mine for disposal. The data collected during each project's tailings processing operations will enable customers to proceed with scale-up, engineering, design, and project economic assessments.

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Moreover, the demonstration plant will facilitate the extrapolation of findings for the bankable feasibility study (BFS), a crucial step in fully commercialising the technology. EnviroGold believes this streamlined approach will significantly reduce timelines for major mining companies to adopt the NVRO Clean Leach Process on a larger scale.

As the mining industry faces mounting pressure to limit or sustainably manage the vast amounts of waste generated during mineral extraction and processing, recent innovative technologies, such as EnviroGold's NVRO Clean Leach Process, provide hope for a more sustainable future. 

By leveraging such advancements in leaching technology and reprocessing methods, mining companies can mitigate environmental impact, maximise resource recovery, and improve operational efficiency.