Australian engineering-led knowledgeEvidence · Context · Application

Technical case record · Metals recovery

Pine Creek secondary critical-mineral prospectivity

Government-led sampling is assessing historic Pine Creek wastes as potential secondary resources for critical and precious metals.

Pine Creek, Northern Territory, AustraliaCharacterisationConcept evidence

What was developed or tested

Geochemistry and mineralogy identify metal deportment and candidate recovery routes including flotation, gravity, cyanidation and bioleaching.

What the evidence supports

A strong Australian characterise-first case. The Cosmo work identified anomalous metals and host minerals, but resource definition, recovery testing and economics remain gates.

Environmental and technical uncertainty

This is prospectivity work, not a recovery project. Any pathway must integrate acid-forming minerals, arsenic and rehabilitation outcomes.

Benefit-case screening lens

Potential value: Recovered metal revenue, critical-mineral supply, improved resource efficiency and possible reduction of a legacy or active tailings inventory.

Deployment constraints: Representative grade, mineral deportment, recovery, throughput, reagents, energy, CAPEX, commodity price and management of the reprocessed residue.

Question before applying elsewhere

Do grade variability, mineral deportment, recovery, reagent demand and residual-waste management support a viable site-specific flowsheet?

Sources

← Back to Technical Library