MINERAL PROCESSING: Pilot plant makes cobalt sulphide from NICO project

ONTARIO – SGS Lakefield Research has successfully made cobalt sulphate in pilot plant tests from material from the NICO gold-cobalt-bismuth-copper project in the Northwest Territories. The project is 100% owned by Fortune Minerals of London, ON. Although the mine and concentrator are located 160 km northwest of Yellowknife, NT, Fortune plans to build the hydrometallurigical plant near Saskatoon, SK.

Cobalt sulphide (CoSO₄) commands a price premium of 15% to 25% over cobalt metal. The sulphate form is used to make lithium ion and nickel metal hydride rechargeble batteries.

SGS used a 2,000-L sample of cobalt pregnant solution for the pilot plant test. Metal impurities were removed using sequential neutralization and solvent axttraction. The pure CoSO₄ solution was then evaporated and subjected to a three-stage crystallization process. Approximately 10 kg of high quality 20.9% CuSO₄ heptahydrate product was produced, thus proving the process flowsheet and product quality.

The metals processing plant near Saskatoon will produce gold doré, 99.9% Co cathode and/or 20.9% CoSO4, 99.99% Bi ingot and a copper metal precipitate.

For further information, visit FortuneMinerals.com.