Majors Placer Dome (PDG-T) and Phelps Dodge (PD-N) surprised the market early yesterday by announcing a joint effort to develop proprietary processing techniques for precious and base metals.
The companies say the move should reduce the costs of their own independent research programs. The combined suite of hydrometallurgical processes should also generate by-product sulphuric acid for use in heap leaching and stockpile leaching of suitable sulphide and oxide ores.
“The technologies of Placer Dome and Phelps Dodge, when combined, can be applied to a range of different, complex sulfide concentrates that contain both precious metals and copper, under various situations and conditions,” says Marilyn Hames, vice-president of Placer. “This agreements could lead to the development of lower-cost processes for producing precious metals and copper at the mine site.”
Placer Dome is the world’s fifth largest gold producer, cranking out 3 million ounces from fifteen operations around the globe. The major also produces 195,000 tonnes of copper.
Phelps Dodge is the world’s largest producer of molybdenum and one of the largest producers of copper. It has more than a dozen operations spread throughout North and South America.
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