Feasibility Study of a Cyanide Leach Circuit and Supporting Facilities

Abstract

This senior design project was completed in collaboration with Barrick Gold Corporation and the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. A problem statement was given to the team by Barrick representatives, describing a predicted change in the ore body of its Goldstrike mine changes from mainly carbonaceous ore to mainly non-carbonaceous ore near the end of the mine’s life. The mine has the ability to build a new processing circuit, which will reduce the cost of processing the non-carbonaceous ore. The criteria for investment in this project involved balancing operating cost savings with capital costs of construction. The project was deemed to be profitable with a net present value of approximately $14.5 million.