Hydrometallurgical Extraction

 

Gold Cedi has selected only proven, safe and powerful hydrometallurgical formulas for use in its operations.

The LIXIUM reagent is sustainable, reusable, eco-friendly, proven, stable and provides very similar leach kinetics than cyanide.

The process involves the dissolution of the valuable metals into aqueous solution. Similar to cyanide, but much safer, these chemical reagents dissolve and bond with precious metals to create a stable precious metal complex which is extracted from solution using conventional methods such as carbon adsorption and electrowinning.

It is a simple process and the solutions operate at alkaline pH levels, and at ambient temperature. The technology is effective on oxide or sulfide ores.

Vat Leaching is a metallurgical recovery process that involves submerging ground whole ore (crushed to minus 1 inch) in large concrete vessels which are inclined on one end to accommodate the loading and unloading of mineralized materials.

The fluid/solution is pumped into the vessel from the bottom and is pumped through activated carbon in columns which "strip" the gold from the solution which is then recycled for reuse in the leaching vats.

The batch process cycle takes 5 days depending on the mineralogy, crush size, and grade of the material. When the leach cycle is completed, the material is rinsed and removed from the vat/pad which is then reloaded with new material.

Benefits of Vat Leaching

 

  • Ore does not need to be finely ground
  • Low-CAPEX & OPEX
  • Minimal Infrastructure required
  • Minimal operating/environmental footprint
  • Material is completely submerged (no channeling)
  • Faster & higher recoveries than heap leaching
  • Process equipment is modular and reusable

Gravity Concentration

Gravity concentration involves the separation of valuable minerals from the other raw materials. This is accomplished by taking advantage of the different properties of the minerals to be separated. These properties can be density separated, elutriation, magnetic or electrostatic separation, and physicochemically separated.

​Gold Cedi may employ these cost-effective methods in conjunction with their Vat Leaching processes depending on the nature/composition of the target minerals in the ore.

Surface Mining

Surface mining is generally the lowest-cost method to extract ore. This is because rock doesn’t have to be moved far uphill against gravity, equipment used can be larger and mining and ore transportation is easier and cheaper than underground.

The mines are designed and engineered to allow drilling and blasting of the orebody if necessary. To access the orebody in some cases, the overburden (rock, soil, and silt on top of the ore) must be removed.

ESG

 

What is ESG?  Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) refers to the key non-financial domains of corporate performance related to: (E) environmental stewardship and sustainability, (S) relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where a company operates, and (G) values-based management around company leadership, internal controls, auditing and reporting, and shareholder rights. Fundamentally, using ESG to assess corporate performance is founded on the recognition that businesses have a social responsibility to influence positive social change, and that environmental, social, and corporate governance are a fundamental part of a business’s bottom line.

The increasing consideration of ESG criteria in assessing corporate performance and allocating investment capital is a transformational trend – The World Economic Forum and KPMG report that Sustainable and Responsible investments have grown from USD $640 billion in 1995 to USD $30 trillion in 2019. This trend looks set to continue through increased awareness about ESG and a general trend within younger investors to seek socially and environmentally responsible investments.

Why is ESG Critical for the Future of Metals & Mining?

 

Metals and minerals have served important cultural and economic functions for thousands of years. However, structural factors and demographic trends including continuous population growth, the acceleration of technological development, and rapidly rising incomes and standards of living in emerging markets are increasing the demand for these finite and unequally distributed resources.

​Concerns over the environmental effects of the carbon-based economy are driving the adoption of renewable energy resources and the accelerating adoption of electric vehicles. According to Deloitte, global electric vehicles are expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 29% over the next decade. With this growth comes an accelerating demand for metals across the entire electrical value chain.

The ongoing transition to a sustainable, low carbon economy demands increasing amounts of metals and minerals. Metals and minerals are natural resources that are vital to an evolving world and its requirement for modern technology, infrastructure, and low carbon options. Applications for metals and minerals are diverse and ubiquitous in the modern global economy and are founded in the need to generate and store renewable energy. Metals are required for the production, conduction, distribution, and storage of electricity as well as being critical components for batteries, electric vehicles, data transmission systems, mobile devices, circuitry, advanced medical devices, and aerospace. Additionally, gold remains a wealth store with an estimated 95% of gold being used in this way.

The importance of securing stable access to precious, critical, and strategic metals is receiving strong, bipartisan support in the United States. Both the Trump and Biden administrations issued Executive Orders intended to direct national policy efforts to secure access to 35 “critical” metals and minerals including cobalt, lithium, titanium, and platinum group metals.

The convergence of the rapid transition to a low carbon economy with its huge appetite for metals and society’s requirement for improved ESG performance place the metals supply business at the center of the ESG lens. Supplying the precious, critical, and strategic metals that are vital in the shift to a more sustainable, more technologically advanced global community will require the development of new, agile business models featuring improved technical capabilities, reduced CAPEX/OPEX, and shorter development lead times. These business model changes will be coupled with an increased focus on the mining companies decades long ongoing work to earn and maintain social license to operate through the consistent demonstration of environmental stewardship, positive social impact, and efficient and equitable use of natural resources.

Sustainability

 

Sustainability is a key priority to all stakeholders, whether they are local communities, local and national governments, our shareholders, or our employees. Our vision is to deliver sustainable value for all stakeholders through responsible mining. People and the environment are our most important resources, and we are committed to safeguarding them both now and for the future. We recognize the catalyst role our operations can play in local communities and commit to leaving a positive legacy.

We do this by implementing the highest standards of sustainability, as well as the necessary plans, procedures, metrics, and targets to meet our commitments every single day.

The utilization of modular and reusable process equipment coupled with our use of reusable chemistry and recycled water are the key elements of our sustainable practices.