The Installation of a Final Cleaning Column at Ok Tedi

The installation of a final cleaning column at Ok Tedi Mining Limited was carried out to increase final concentrate grade in order to reduce concentrate handling, shipping and treatment charges and to reduce penalty payments. To fast-track the project a decision was made to install a full-size column on one of the two parallel circuits, designed on information readily available and utilising the experience of mill staff and an engineering consultant, rather than delay installation while a pilot scale program was conducted. A 3.66 m diameter by 12.8 m high column was installed to produce 40 t/h of final concentrate from a combination of rougher concentrate and recleaner concentrate. The column design and sparger system were by Cominco Engineering Services Limited.