The mining sector is under intense scrutiny to ramp up production of critical minerals while minimizing environmental footprints. Amidst this pressure, innovative technologies like Eriez’s HydroFloat system are stepping into the spotlight, promising to revolutionize mineral recovery processes. This coarse particle flotation technology is already demonstrating its mettle in real-world mining operations, sparking a wave of interest and debate within the industry.
Eriez, a global supplier of process equipment, is positioning itself as a solutions provider, tackling the mining industry’s most pressing challenges. Erich Dohm, Director of Mining at Eriez, emphasizes the company’s collaborative approach, working hand-in-hand with customers to develop technologies that address specific needs. The HydroFloat system, in particular, is turning heads with its ability to recover particles more than twice as coarse as conventional flotation cells. But why does this matter?
Traditionally, miners have had to grind ore finely to liberate valuable minerals, leading to significant challenges in tailings management and water recovery. In regions like Brazil and Chile, these issues are particularly acute. By enabling coarser grinding while maintaining high recoveries, the HydroFloat technology offers a dual advantage: increased profitability and reduced environmental impact. This is a game-changer, especially for miners operating in water-stressed areas or facing stringent tailings management regulations.
So, how does this translate to real-world savings? Dohm cites a practical example: increasing throughput without the need for additional comminution capacity. Instead of investing in more SAG and ball mills, miners can coarsen their grind size using HydroFloat, achieving increased metal production and improved profitability. The reduced operating expenses of the HydroFloat system can also alter mine planning, expand reserves, and boost the overall net present value of a mining project.
The HydroFloat system is already proving its worth in real-world applications. Newmont’s Cadia Valley operation, for instance, saw significant improvements in copper and gold recoveries after installing the technology. The success at Cadia has led Newmont to explore further implementations across its portfolio, a testament to the technology’s potential.
From an investor’s perspective, the HydroFloat system can significantly impact the long-term value and risk profile of a mining project. By reducing operating expenses, miners can expand their reserves, including parts of the deposit that were previously uneconomical to mine. This can lead to an improved net present value, making the operation more attractive to investors.
The implications for the critical minerals sector and the energy transition are profound. For lithium, a critical mineral for electric vehicles, the HydroFloat system has been successfully used to increase grind size and reduce the generation of ultrafines, thereby improving profitability. In other critical minerals, the technology allows for the rejection of gangue at a coarser size, simplifying tailings management and even providing economic benefits to local communities.
Looking ahead, Eriez is not resting on its laurels. Dohm hints at continuous innovation within their flotation and magnetic separation technology portfolios, with new products in the pipeline that could provide groundbreaking performance. As the mining industry grapples with the need for critical minerals and sustainable practices, technologies like HydroFloat are not just nice to have—they’re essential. The debate is no longer about whether innovation is needed; it’s about who will lead the charge and how quickly the industry can adapt. The HydroFloat system is a bold step forward, but it’s just the beginning. The real question is, who will follow suit and how will the industry evolve in response? The future of mining is here, and it’s time to embrace it.
